Fears for show over bluetongue

Fears were raised today that livestock entries for this year's West Mid Show could fall amid concerns about bluetongue disease among sheep and cattle.Organisers of the show, which is due to take place in Shrewsbury on June 21 and 22, say high level talks will need to take place a few weeks before the event if the situation does not change.

The number of entries for this year's show is threatened by the disease, which affects sheep and cattle.

Thousands of different livestock normally take part in the show across more than 220 different categories.

But the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has designated Shropshire as a bluetongue surveillance zone.

This allows sheep and cattle to be moved around within the county, but if breeders from Wales want to take part they would not be able to take their animals home again.

Defra also says that even if a vaccination to protect animals from bluetongue becomes available, it could be some time before it is off-ered to Shropshire farmers.

Gary Tudor, commercial director of the show, today said farmers raised concerns at the show council's AGM last week.

He said: "I think there are fears livestock entries will fall. We are governed by Defra regulations and have to wait to take the lead from Defra regulations.

"Some concerns were raised at the AGM about when the vaccine will be delivered and the time it will take after that for animals to be allowed to be moved.

"But the show will go on and it will not be cancelled as a result of bluetongue."

Tudor Bebb, a member of the West Mid Show Council, said the show would need "a bit of luck" and called on people to support this year's event whatever happened over bluetongue.