Okehampton Show ? the highlight in the local farming calendar ? is set to suffer a serious reduction in exhibits this summer.
Defra?s proposals for a six-day restriction rule on livestock movement will take its toll on venues such as Okehampton ? and on exhibitors who ?do the circuit? of agricultural shows.
Joint chairman of Okehampton Show John Hockridge felt entries would be affected ?considerably? by the restriction.
He said: ?In the West Country in July and August there are a lot of shows. People that exhibit regularly will have to think very carefully which shows they will attend because of the six-day rule. Camelford show comes the day before Okehampton which is on August 14,? he said.
Mr Hockridge said some of the North Devon breeds will be affected by the Exford Show in Somerset.
?Some of those people with Exmoor Horn and Devon Close Wool sheep breeds would exhibit at Exford on the Wednesday and come to Okehampton the following day,? he said.
?Because these are very much Exmoor breeds, Exford is their show. They come to Okehampton regularly but it is bound to affect the entries this year.?
People who have a prize-winning animal do the circuit to get as many breed champion rosettes as possible.
?During the summer season some people start off in May and go right through to September. They do the three-day shows and the one-day shows.
?If you have a good animal you make the most of that year ? the six-day rule will stop that because they will have to be more selective,? said Mr Hockridge.
In the wake of the foot and mouth crisis Okehampton Show did not have any cloven hoofed animals last year. This year the classes are open again but they could ironically be low in numbers because of the latest blow to exhibitors.
?Defra are reviewing the situation at the end of July but that will be too late because the schedules will have all been sent out and the entries will have been closed,? said Mr Hockridge.
?There is a lot of work in showing. It is an expensive hobby. It is also a social occasion where people meet fellow exhibitors and, if they can, win a card,? he said.
?Shows provide the farming community with a good day out. People in the countryside are not only having their livelihood affected because of foot and mouth, but also their social side as well,? said Mr Hockridge.
?It is better than it was ? but this six-day rule, as far as the shows are concerned, is bound to have an affect.?
West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett said the importance of the annual agricultural shows ?cannot be exaggerated?.
He said: ?They are showpieces for our agricultural industry which serves us so well.
?Everyone understands there is a compelling need for precautions to prevent any further incident of foot and mouth or any other disease.
?But surely it is possible in these particular and restricted circumstances for a shorter period in respect of identified and certificated animals.?