Proposed EU animal health laws regarding TB test rules could mean many summer shows miss out on exhibitor support.

It’s proposed that animals with more than six months since their last TB test would be required to test 30 days before a movement. Last week in the Irish Farmers Journal, mart managers expressed their concern on the proposal, and these changes could also have dire consequences for small local shows. At the moment it is required that animals be 42 days between TB tests. With the proposed 30-day test after six months, its means animals may miss out on 12 days or two weekends of shows each time tested after six months.

For regular exhibitors, this could mean missing out on small local shows which rely on each and every entry, or even a society national final depending on when the dates fall.

This will add even more pressure to a sector which is finding it increasingly hard to attract sponsorship

An introduction of pre-movement testing would take a lot of careful consideration for breeders to determine the best time to show, or indeed identify the shows which they may have to leave out.

More than likely, the choice will be that of the local show, which carries a less prestigious title or prize fund. This will add even more pressure to a sector which is finding it increasingly hard to attract sponsorship.

Jim Harrison, national secretary of the Irish Shows Association, said: “It would be devastating for shows. The 42 days between tests would be a serious problem and we couldn’t function with that as it would knock out the small family shows.”