Cattle

Show Description

In order to enter your cattle for competition, you must follow this two stage process:
1. Go to the "book event extras" page and book your stalls that you require, along with livestock exhibitor cubicles, camping and supper tickets if required - deadline 20 April 2026, please enter all details reference arrival day and breeds per stalls.
2. Enter the classes of your choice including pair/group entries and young leader entries which will need paying for at the time of entering the class, plus any special awards that need entry prior to the show - these details can be added until 15 May 2026.

As one of our most popular livestock sections for competitors and visitors alike, at the Royal Cornwall Show we boast some of the best competition and breeding lines in the country. Many different breeds are represented, with our cattle section housed within our two purposely-built exhibition halls.

IMPORTANT NOTICES AND REGULATIONS FOR CATTLE EXHIBITORS

Entry Forms
• Exhibitors must complete and return an entry form by Monday 20 April confirming the following:
Number of required stalls per breed (maximum of twelve stalls per any one breed)
Please note that separate stalls must be reserved, and paid for, for all calves at foot over 3 months of age. This also applies if a 2nd stall for large bulls etc. is required.
The Association reserves the right to reduce the number of stalls booked if necessary.
A 50% refund on the stall fee will be made for cancellations received, in writing by Monday 27 April.
Number of kit pens
Any Pair/Group entries (one entry fee is payable per pair/group, not one per animal)
Camping/Livestock Exhibitor Cubicle requirements
Supper Tickets
Membership and any additional admission tickets

• All animal details, together with BVD certificates and lactation certificates for special prizes entered must then be submitted to the office by Friday 15 May, non return of the entry form by this date will result in all fees being forfeited. Please note that no entry substitutions will be possible after this date.
• Entry for special prizes, where eligible, will be automatic, except those wishing to compete for Special Prizes C68, C114, C122 and C124 which must be stated on your entry form, entry fees are not payable for special prizes.
• Only three animals may be shown by an exhibitor in any one class.
• No exhibitor may be permitted to exhibit more than two animals per class which were the result of an embryo transfer from the same parentage.
• The exhibitors of bulls, cows and heifers shall certify as to the purity of breeds and eligibility for the respective herd books.

Passes
The following passes will be allocated to all cattle exhibitors, any additional passes required must be purchased alongside your entries:
One Entry: 2 x Three Day Passes
Two to Four Entries: 3 x Three Day Passes
Five Entries and over: 4 x Three Day Passes
Exhibitors’ information and vehicle passes will be forwarded prior to the Show, all other passes and cattle neck numbers must be collected from the Cattle Stewards Office.

Showing
• All cattle must be properly secured to the satisfaction of the officials of the Association on being brought to the entrance of the Showground or they may not be admitted. Whilst stalled at the show it is suggested that all cattle are double tied.
• Pressure Hoses: only low pressure hoses can be used for washing of cattle. Pressure above 30psi will not be permitted. The use of power hoses producing water above 30psi is banned.
• Livestock must be under the control of a competent handler at all times and they must use approved restraints which are safe and fit for purpose. Movements on the showground include areas used by the public and also when going from the Exhibition Halls to the judging rings and handlers must ensure adequate safeguards are in place to prevent an animal from escaping.
• The exercising of cattle within the cattle judging rings prior to the start of judging on the first day is prohibited.
• All exhibitors to wear official breed uniform or white coats when showing and parading cattle.
• All exhibitors MUST display the correct showing number for each class.
• All bulls over 12 months of age must be accompanied by 2 people. All bulls over 10 months old must have a permanent ring attached to the nose and must be provided with a strong chain or rope and to be led. Use of the bulldog can be used for younger cattle, if felt appropriate.
• All cows shall have had a fully developed calf within six months of the exhibition or shall be in-calf at the time of the exhibition and in the case of both cows and heifers exhibited as being in-calf, the prizes will not be paid to the exhibitor of any in-calf cow or heifer not in-milk, until such time as the animal has been certified to have produced a fully developed calf.
• All trophies will be presented at the time of the judging of the relevant class or special prize, except the Supreme Beef, Supreme Dairy and President’s trophies which will be presented in the Main Ring during the second day Grand Parade.

Arrival and Movement of Cattle to/from the Showground
• Cattle may arrive between the following times:
Tuesday, 2 June, from 10am until 9pm.
Wednesday, 3 June, from 8am until 7pm, all livestock must be on the showground by 7pm at the latest.
All stock must remain until the Grand Parade of livestock has returned to the stock lines on Saturday 6 June.
The above deadlines must be adhered to by all livestock exhibitors, if this is not the case exhibitors run the risk of not being permitted to exhibit.
Livestock are NOT permitted to arrive on the first morning of the show.
• Licensing and Documentation: animals entering the showground must present the following documents on arrival: BCMS Passport. This applies to all cattle, including calves, for show or exhibition. The Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association will electronically record all movements onto and off the Showground. Barcode labels will be placed on the movement summary page. Passports to be collected between 10am and 12noon on Saturday 6 June from the Cattle Stewards Office. If not collected by 12noon the remaining passports will be returned to the Secretary’s Office for collection.
• Full details regarding the rules regulating the transport of livestock can be found on the DEFRA website as follows; defra.gov.uk/food-farm/animals/welfare/transport/

Veterinary Regulations
• TB Regulations: exhibitors are required to comply with current TB regulations. For those cattle coming from six monthly and one and two year testing parishes please note it is a requirement that the animals at the show are tested within 60 days before this show. Compliance with pre-movement testing requirements is the responsibility of the owner/cattle keeper moving the animal(s). Full details can be found on the following website: gov.uk/guidance/bovine-tb-testing-intervals
• Brucellosis Regulations: all cattle must be from herds which are officially Brucellosis free. (NB from 1 October 1985 all herds were re-designated to be OBF Status).
• At the date of entry cattle must be from herds which are free from restrictions imposed under (a) The Tuberculosis Order 1984; and (b) The Brucellosis Orders. In addition the entered animals must not themselves be under individual restrictions. An animal accepted for entry must not be consigned to the Royal Cornwall Show if, after entry, either it or the herd to which it belongs becomes subject to movement restrictions.
• Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) Regulations: all cattle attending the Royal Cornwall Show MUST reside in a herd which has been tested as part of a recognised BVD eradication programme or to have been individually tested for BVD antigen with a negative result. Individual BVD antigen results may be obtained via blood sampling or tissue tagging. Proof of testing and negative status must be sent to the office together with your entry form. For those cattle keepers using herd status to demonstrate BVD freedom, antibody results must not be older than 12 months before the date of arrival at the show.
• Ringworm: any animal which shows evidence of ringworm should not be sent to the Show. Any animal found to be affected will, on the certificate of the Association's vet team, be disqualified from competition and must be removed from the showground. The exhibitor of such animals will be subject to a fine not exceeding £25 per affected animal.
• Warble Fly: the Warble Fly (England and Wales) Order 1982, as amended. Any cattle which are affected with warble fly larvae are subject to movement restrictions. Such affected cattle may only be lawfully moved if accompanied by a declaration of treatment (Form C - Yellow). Affected animals, not accompanied by a declaration of treatment (Form C) detected in the Showground will be licensed home.
• Calving: animals which calve or show evidence of calving whilst at the showground must be placed in the isolation accommodation pending their possible early removal from the Showground.
Where an animal calves at full term, and the owner arranges for a blood sample and vaginal swab to be taken and examined at an approved laboratory, and Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and a microscopical examination of a smear made from the vaginal swab are negative, the animal may return to the show lines at the discretion of the show secretary.
Where an animal calves prematurely or aborts, the DVO must be informed immediately. The animal must be returned home TOGETHER WITH ALL OTHER SHOW ANIMALS FROM THE SAME REGISTERED PREMISES after a full range of samples has been taken. The suspect animal must be isolated during transit.
If, whilst in the showground a cow calves either at full term or prematurely or aborts or show signs of aborting and the exhibitor or their stockpersons fails to inform the Association’s vet team, that exhibitor, if proved to have infringed this regulation will be liable, at the discretion of the council of the Association to a LIFE-TIME BAN from exhibiting at any future shows held by the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association.
• Blood Samples: the Association reserves the right to take blood samples from any animal exhibited.
• Tampering and Malpractice: please refer to the Bye-Laws and Regulations at the back of the prize schedule for full details.

Please refer to our current year Livestock Prize Schedule for full details and terms and conditions of classes.