Pigs

Show Description

The Royal Cornwall Show's pig section is one of the biggest across the country pulling in exhibitors from the length and breadth of the UK. With judging on all three days of the show, there is always plenty of showing in action, including BPA Pig of the Year and Young Pig of the Year heats.

IMPORTANT NOTICES AND REGULATIONS FOR PIG EXHIBITORS

Entry Forms
• Pigs to have been registered in a published volume or accepted for entry in a forthcoming volume of the British Pig Association’s Herd Book. (It is not sufficient for an animal to be ‘eligible for registration’). Animals registered in a Grading Register of a Herd Book are not eligible for entry in agricultural show classes.
• A range of litter numbers will be accepted for January classes. Pigs brought to the show must be selected from this range and must be herd book registered before the start of the show.
• All pigs of the British Lop breed (other than farrows accompanying sows) must have been registered prior to the date of entry and the ear number given on the entry form. Exhibits must be the property of a paid-up member of the British Lop Pig Society.
• The ear number, registered name, Herd Book number and date of birth of each pig, also the name and Herd Book number of sire and dam, must be supplied for printing in the catalogue together with the name of the breeder in cases where the exhibitor is not also the breeder.
• At all shows in 2026 female pigs (all breeds) born before 1 January 2025 shall be eligible to compete only if in the six calendar months prior to the show they have farrowed, suckled and reared to four weeks of age a birth notified litter of pigs. The farrowing date must be stated on the entry form.
• At all shows in 2026 female pigs born on or after 1 January and before 1 July in the year before the show must within 18 months of their date of birth have farrowed, suckled and reared to four weeks of age a birth notified litter of pigs.
• Boars of two years of age and over (all breeds) are to be certified as having sired at least three live litters within the twelve months preceding the first day of the show. The pigs comprising such litters are to have been litter notified in the British Pig Association’s Herd Book or proof of their birth must have been given to the Association.
• Exhibitors may make a maximum of THREE entries in any one class.

Passes
The following passes will be allocated to all pig exhibitors, any additional passes required must be purchased alongside your entries:
One to Five entries: 2 x Three Day Passes
Six to Ten entries: 3 x Three Day Passes
Over Ten entries: 4 x Three Day Passes
Exhibitors’ information and vehicle passes will be forwarded prior to the show, all other passes and pig numbers must be collected from the Pig Stewards Office.

Showing
• The classes will be run in accordance with the Bye-Laws and Regulations of the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association (as listed above and at the back of the prize schedule) and all pigs must be shown in accordance with BPA General and Special Conditions.
• Boars aged twelve months or more at the time of the exhibition, must have their tusks cut prior to the show.
• The use of artificial colouring, whitening and/or powder on pigs as well as the removal or addition of spots by artificial means is prohibited (white woodflour is permitted).
• All boars must be shown by two competent adult handlers who are equipped with protective boards.
• All exhibitors must wear white coats when showing and parading stock.
• All exhibitors MUST display the correct showing number for each class.
• Breed champion rosettes from the British Pig Association will only be awarded to members of the British Pig Association. If breed classes are amalgamated BPA breed champion rosettes will be replaced by BPA rosettes. BPA rosettes will be awarded to BPA members.
• The award of the following prizes is conditional upon there being the stated number of entries in each class; 5th prize card and rosette over eight entries, 6th prize card and rosette over ten entries.
• Breed judging will take place on the following days:
Thursday 4 June commencing at 10am for the following breeds: Pietrain, Duroc, Any Other Pure Breed, British Lop, Landrace, Large White and Welsh.
Friday 5 June commencing at 9am with a break between approximately 1pm and 2pm for the following breeds: British Saddleback, Gloucestershire Old Spots, Oxford Sandy and Black, Large Black, Middle White, Kunekune, Tamworth and Berkshire (the order of which will be decided after the entries are closed).
Saturday 6 June commencing at 9am for the Inter-Breed Pig Championships followed by the Young Handler Competition.
• For 2026 breed classes have been scheduled for the various breeds as listed however, should an individual breed fail to attract entries from at least 3 different exhibitors, such classes may be amalgamated with other breeds.

Arrival and Movement of Pigs to/from the Showground
• Pigs 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 on Wednesday 3 June 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: Please ensure that all pigs have the correct movement licence in place, movements will either have to be reported using the free eAML2 online service or the free eAML2 bureau service. 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
• Movement of pigs from a farm for breeding, exhibition, artificial insemination or veterinary treatment: The Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1995
Exhibitors bringing pigs to the 2026 Royal Cornwall Show will need to complete a declaration relating to their movement in accordance with the above Order. On return, the pigs will have to be kept separate from all other pigs for a period of 20 days.
The person in charge of such pigs must carry a copy of the declaration throughout the movement and also send a copy of the declaration to the local authority within 7 days and ensure that the conditions relating to such movement are adhered to.

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