Bluetongue: how are our shows being affected?

Posted: 6th August 2026

An article from our Chief Executive, Jenna Payne

The Bluetongue outbreak in the South West has placed enormous pressure on our agricultural shows. Bluetongue is spread by midges, not through direct animal contact. This single fact changes everything; you cannot disinfect the air and you cannot fence out these tiny creatures. Midges travel on weather patterns, sometimes drifting miles in a single day, which means risk levels can shift quickly and unpredictably. This makes decisions about running livestock classes far more complex than many people realise.

Why do decisions differ from show to show?

Bluetongue is a midge‑borne virus and so the risk is not something a show can fully control. The risks depend on wind speed, temperature, local livestock presence, local infection levels and vaccination uptake. Two shows in the same region may face very different circumstances; some showgrounds sit in areas where infected midges have been detected whilst others are in places where risk is currently low. Some have strong veterinary capacity on site whereas others rely on smaller teams. There is no single template that fits every show.

This is why APHA (Animal Plant & Health Agency) has confirmed that it is up to each show to decide whether to run livestock classes and under what conditions. Show directors and trustees carry the responsibility, but these choices must be made hand in hand with show vets. There is no single right answer and the decision has to feel right to those responsible.

A day at North Devon Show

Yesterday I was at the North Devon Show, helping to welcome exhibitors into the sheep lines. This show sits right in the middle of the affected region. With guidance and support from the show’s veterinary team, the Show Directors made the decision to run their livestock classes and allow exhibitors to choose for themselves whether they felt comfortable in attending. It was a thoughtful and brave call, rooted in trust and clear communication.

Every exhibitor is facing a different reality and the show team decided to give their exhibitors the choice to attend. For some, the risk feels the same whether their animals are at home or on the showground whereas others felt safer with their stock at home. Many had already vaccinated their animals so felt comfortable bringing them out whilst there were some who are already dealing with the reality of Bluetongue on their farms. Those who chose not to bring stock were invited to use their passes to attend the show; speak with fellow farmers, meet charities offering rural support and enjoy aspects of the show they ordinarily would not get to see. Refunds were offered too. Everyone understands how financially stretched farmers are right now and Bluetongue is only adding more strain.

Numbers were noticeably down. The MV accredited sheep section had only a handful of exhibitors. The non‑MV section was stronger but still significantly reduced. Cattle entries were around half their usual level. Many of those who did attend were already vaccinated and felt reassured by that. The veterinary teams took no chances; every animal was visually checked at the gates and as stock were unloaded, the team of vets carried out thorough assessments, including temperature checks. It was a windy day, which meant that by sheer luck the midge risk was incredibly low. Even so, the vigilance was constant.

Overall, the atmosphere felt positive and those that attended, with or without animals, felt a sense of belonging – a community coming together and knowing that nobody was alone in facing this difficult situation.

Why might some shows cancel livestock classes?

There are many valid reasons why a show may choose not to host livestock classes this year:

• Infected midges detected close to the showground
• Veterinary advice to keep livestock away
• A sense of duty to the farming community
• Limited veterinary capacity on show day
• Insufficient time to implement additional checks
• Low vaccination uptake in the local area

In some cases, the decision is taken out of a show’s hands entirely, for example, if the virus reaches the doorstep of the showground, it would not wise to invite people into a location where infected midges are known to be immediately present.

Why do some shows continue to run?

For those that are running, like North Devon, it was clear that many exhibitors were grateful for the chance to step off the farm, meet fellow farmers and show their animals to the wider community. There was a positive feeling, although always with an awareness of the challenges so many are currently facing.

Running livestock classes can:

• Provide choice to exhibitors
• Support rural mental wellbeing
• Maintain long‑standing traditions
• Offer a sense of normality during a difficult time
• Keep communities connected

These benefits matter as our farming community are the beating heart of our shows.

Communication and contingency planning

One of the most important parts of managing Bluetongue risk is communication. Shows are working hard to keep exhibitors informed about the situation, the advice from vets and the options available to them. Clear, honest communication helps exhibitors make decisions that suit their own circumstances. It also builds trust at a time when uncertainty is high.

Alongside this, shows are developing detailed contingency planning. This includes:

• Preparing alternative layouts or routes for livestock
• Planning for reduced numbers
• Creating fallback options if livestock classes cannot run
• Ensuring veterinary teams are ready to scale up checks
• Communicating early with exhibitors about possible changes

These plans are not always visible to the public, but they are happening behind the scenes in every affected show. They are a crucial part of responsible decision making and must always be open to adjustment as circumstances could change at any time.

The human side of decision making

These decisions are landing at the worst possible moment for our Show Secretaries. Those final weeks before show are already the most pressured. Adding something as significant as Bluetongue is overwhelming. Many people simply do not understand the complexity behind these choices. Some of the comments on social media have been deeply hurtful and they land hard on Secretaries who are already stretched thin and doing their absolute best; it is a thankless role even in a normal year.

For many, losing livestock classes feels like losing the heart of the show and the very people at its core. However, we are aware that strong feelings exist on both sides, which is exactly why each show must make its own decision based on its own circumstances.

Standing together

We continue to work closely with our show teams. We are sharing information, attending meetings, supporting decision making, connecting shows, working with veterinary teams and offering a listening ear to Secretaries who often feel alone as they navigate this situation and guide their committees and stewards.

We are already supporting our member shows due to run in the coming weeks, but as the Bluetongue virus spreads, more of our members are likely to be affected. If you need to talk, please reach out to us, even if it is simply to chat through what other shows are doing and why. The more knowledge we share, the better the decisions that are made and the stronger our industry becomes for the future.