All roads lead to Turriff this summer as more than 2000 animals prepare for Scotland's largest two-day agricultural show

Entry numbers are now confirmed across all classes, with over 260 cattle, nearly 800 sheep and 600 horses and ponies. All exhibitors will now be preparing their animals for the main and livestock rings.

Turriff has always been popular for national breed shows, and this year is no exception. The Blue Texel National Sheep Show will be held on Monday 3 August and judged by Stephanie Dick, well known in the livestock circuit for her award-winning Stephick Blue Texel and Beltex sheep flocks.

Exhibitors will travel to the event from across Scotland, bringing their Blue Texels from as far south as Lockerbie, as well as Glasgow, Perthshire, and the surrounding Turriff area. An impressive 99 entries have been received for this year's show, promising a highly competitive event.

Holly Buchan, Fieldsperson at Duncan Farms will be exhibiting her sheep in the classes, she said: “I love working with my Blue Texel sheep - they have an approachable temperament and make excellent natural mothers. They are an easy-to handle, hardy breed, built to cope with the harshest Scottish weather, even though they’re not native, originating from the Netherlands. I’m really looking forward to exhibiting my best breeding ewe, Josie, a tup bought at Stirling last year, a ewe lamb, and a tup lamb.”

According to the Blue Texel Society, the Blue Texel Sheep is a modern terminal sire breed renowned for its exceptional muscling, superior carcass quality, and excellent growth performance. Recognised by its distinctive blue-grey colouring and strong, well-balanced conformation, the Blue Texel combines style with outstanding commercial traits.

Bred to meet the demands of today's sheep industry, the breed is valued for producing fast-growing, heavily muscled lambs with excellent carcass yields while maintaining ease of management and adaptability across a range of production systems. The breed continues to gain popularity among commercial producers and pedigree breeders alike for its consistency, performance, and genetic potential.

The full breakdown of entries, by class, is:

• 267 Cattle
• 798 sheep
• 583 horses and ponies
• 53 goats
• 163 pigeons
• 910 rabbits and cavies
• 40 Clydesdales
• 12 Collie dogs.

Adding to the celebration of the region’s beef farming, the presentation of prizes for Show’s annual carcase cattle and butchery lamb classes will take place at the Woodhead Brothers stand on Sunday 2 August at 3pm. These classes have proven to be as popular as ever, with an increase of entry numbers from commercial breeders and finishers from across the North East of Scotland.

The prestigious roles of judging the whole Show’s Champion of Champions will be held in the Main Ring on Monday 3 August, and rests, once again, in the competent hands of Mr Donald Young from Perthshire. This will include all champions from the cattle, sheep, ridden pony, in-hand pony and Clydesdale sections.

Other judges are:

• Overall in the cattle: Keith Redpath
• Overall in-hand champion horse & pony: Robin Avery
• Overall Ridden Champion: Christopher Patrick
• Across all goat classes: Mr G Webster
• Overall & Pairs in the Sheep will be judged by The Sheep Game’s Cammy Wilson.

Duncan Gray, President of Turriff Show said:

“A huge thank you to all the wonderful judges who come from near and far to be a part of our two-day event. We’re delighted to host the Blue Texel National Sheep Show and, following last year’s unfortunate early closure of the show, it’s really uplifting to see such large entry numbers for all classes again, especially as, I feel, it’s the quality and depth of our livestock classes that truly set our much-loved show apart from other agricultural events. We’re very thankful for the time and effort exhibitors and handlers put into preparing animals for the two-day show and will be ready to welcome them to Turriff in August.”

More information on the classes and judges can be found at www.turriffshow.org.