Sheep

Show Description

Covering a wide range of Native, Continental and Rare breeds, plus Young Handler and Fleece classes, our sheep section is one of the most extensive of our livestock. Held over all three days, there is always something going on at the judging rings.

IMPORTANT NOTICES AND REGULATIONS FOR SHEEP EXHIBITORS

Entry forms
• All lambs must be born on or after 1 December 2025 unless otherwise stated, or individual breed society rules state differently.
• All ewes, 2 shear or over, to have reared a lamb(s) in the year of the show.
• Exhibitors may only enter TWO entries in any one class.

Passes
• The following passes will be allocated to all sheep exhibitors, any additional passes required must be purchased alongside your entries:
One entry: 1 x Three Day Pass
Two 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 sheep numbers must be collected from the Sheep Stewards Office.

Showing
• Each pen of ewes must be of the same flock.
• All sheep being shown must be on halters if applicable, but must be on halters to be paraded.
• All exhibitors MUST display the correct showing number for each class.
• 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 ten entries, 6th Prize Card and Rosette over twelve entries.
• The trophies for the Supreme Champion Sheep, Ram Lamb Championship and Best Pair plus the President’s Trophy will be presented in the Main Ring during the second day Grand Parade. All other trophies will be presented at the time of the judging of the relevant class or special prize.

Arrival and movement of sheep to/from the showground
• Sheep may arrive between the following times:
Tuesday, 2 June, from 10am until 9pm (other than British Native and Traditional Rare Breed sheep who may only arrive on Wednesday 3 June, unless prior permission is given by the Secretary).
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:
ARAMS 1 / LIS movement form - applies to all sheep for show or exhibition.
MAEDI-VISNA - a completed SAC Sheep Health Scheme Certificate (which has not expired), will also be collected.
ARAMS 1 / LIS movement form re departure are to be collected at time of departure at the Sheep Exit Gate.
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
• Arrangements for Maedi-Visna Accredited and Scrapie Monitored sheep
Maedi-Visna accredited and Scrapie Monitored accommodation will only be provided for sheep which have been signified as being of such status on the entry form. In order to be admitted to the accredited accommodation, all Maedi-Visna accredited sheep must be accompanied by the appropriate SAC Form (green) - within expiry date. Scrapie Monitored sheep will be accommodated and shown in unsegregated conditions.

All female sheep, whether scrapie monitored or not, of all breeds except Dorset Horn, Polled Dorset and Finnsheep must, at the time of the show be:
a) non-pregnant (empty),
b) have not lambed within 30 days prior to arrival at the show and
c) not be subject to procedures which change the seasonal breeding pattern.

All females of the Dorset Horn, Polled Dorset and Finnsheep breeds and animals subject to procedures which change the seasonal breeding pattern must be accompanied to the show by a declaration for each animal confirming that the sheep are:
a) non-pregnant (empty) and
b) have not lambed in the previous 30 days.

• All sheep brought into the showground must have been dipped and moved in accordance with any ministry regulations in force at that time.
• Exhibitors are specially cautioned not to send to the show animals which are suffering from Orf in any stage. Any animal found to be affected, will, on the advice of the show vet team, be disqualified from competition and removed from the show.
• Current legislation (the Mutilation (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007 Schedule 5.5) requires that sheep must have sufficient tail retained to cover the vulva of the female sheep and the anus of the male sheep. Sheep entered for the 2026 Royal Cornwall Show are liable to be inspected in the lines by the Association's vet team or other appropriate official bodies. Any sheep which do not comply with the aforementioned regulation will not be eligible to be shown.
• The spraying of sheep with any substances is forbidden within the Sheep Marquee.

Please note that animals entered in the group classes must also be entered in the inspection classes.

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