A total of 71,500 people visited Tullamore Show on Sunday, up 30% on 2014 figures. The show is the largest exhibition of cattle in the country over 260 acres of showground area.

The show was officially opened in the afternoon by Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney who in the course of his opening speech thanked the Tullamore Show chair, secretary, organising committee and the team of volunteers for their hard work in preparing for the event. He also addressed the woes of the dairy industry and positive developments in the beef sector.

The Minister said this year needs to be a "watershed" in terms of farm safety.

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The Irish Farmers Association was also at Tullamore to launch its new guide to farm schemes and payments. The guide outlines the details across all the schemes in one "simple, summarised document" as well as outlining farmers’ rights on inspections and payments, as set out in the new farmers charter.

Results from the champion livestock classes rolled in in the evening. Click here for a list of the main winners and a video of the closing parade of champions.

In the Irish Farmers Journal-sponsored commercial cow and calf section, an astute online judge correctly guessed the top three entrants picked by judge Clive Jennings and won our competition. "The cow did not contain too extreme a muscling and the calf was born naturally, without caesarean section," Jennings explained. Watch an interview with the judge here.

Galway-based quick service food chain Supermac's was also onsite to promote its new 100% Irish 5oz beef burger, the first fresh meat burger to be made available in a quick service food chain in Ireland.

Browse the photo gallery above for some pictures from the event so far today.

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Tullamore: The biggest exhibition of livestock in the country

Gearing up for the Tullamore Show