The Royal Cornwall Show is rapidly approaching. Entries for the show’s livestock and equine sections have closed and numbers across the board are well up on last year.

It’s a special year for the show’s cattle section. This year it not only welcomes the 2015 National Show of Devon cattle, but has also been selected to host both the dairy and beef Burke trophies. The awards for the best pair of beef and dairy cattle were the pinnacle of the former Royal Show’s livestock section.

Competition will be cranked up an extra notch with these additional, coveted prizes in the cattle showing world up for grabs when the show is held on the 4, 5 and 6 June at the Wadebridge showground.

It is therefore not a surprise that cattle entries for this year’s show have reached capacity. A total of 639 cattle stalls are housed within nearly one acre of indoor space within the showground’s exhibition halls. All of which have been booked.

The other livestock sections are also set for a great year and have enjoyed similar increases in competitors.The sheep section has registered its second highest entry on record. 1219 sheep entries have been received, 46 more than last year and just short of the record set at the 2012 show. The fleece section has had a healthy return of 56 entries.

The pig section has had 213 entries, the third highest received. Five more than attended the 2014 show and just one short of the second highest entry that was set in 2013.

The pig section will be partly housed within new, purpose built pens for the first time. The Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association (RCAA), organisers of the show, has invested over £50,000 in the new pig penning. This is the latest investment in a continued programme of renewing and upgrading the showground and the show’s facilities.

RCAA secretary, Chris Riddle, said:“The association was pleased to invest in these new pens. The pig farming industry is an important one and we are committed to supporting it.

“Royal Cornwall’s pig section has been consistently strong and well attended. It is fitting that it will now have high quality facilities befitting of its standing within the pig showing world as being one of the best in the country.” The upward trend in participation has also been felt in the horse section, with 1315 entries accepted. This represents an additional 139 horses, ponies and donkeys compared to last year.

Entries for the show jumping classes which take place in the show’s main ring are still open, and will close on 13 May.

To find out more about this year’ show please visit www.royalcornwall.co.uk.