LIVESTOCK entries are flowing in strongly for the 2022 Royal Adelaide Show to be held from September 3-11, with plenty of enthusiasm from stud breeders about the event's return.
Many of the competitive sections close in the coming few weeks with the beef cattle and goats tomorrow (Friday) at 5pm, followed by alpacas, sheep and wool a fortnight later on Friday, July 8.
Those entering dairy cattle and pigs have until Friday July 22.
Show general manager Michelle Hocking says after COVID forced the event's cancellation in 2019 and 2020 they were looking forward to an "excellent" show and the "state's biggest reunion".
"The Royal Show plays such an important role in educating the city public about agriculture, in particular youth," she said.
"For some children, the show is the first or only place they get to be in arms reach of livestock and have the opportunity to gain an understanding about their food source."
Beef cattle committee chairman David Copping is pleased with how entries are progressing from local studs and quite a few exhibitors from Vic.
"We normally have a huge influx over the last two days so everything is looking positive for 2022," he said.
The on-hook section of the steer competition continued to be held in 2020 and 2021 at Teys' Naracoorte abattoir despite the show being cancelled but Mr Copping says it will be great to again have schools and breeders parading their steers for on-hoof judging on the first weekend of the show.
Crossbred steers are eligible to be entered for the first time with separate classes created. Mr Copping hopes this will help "grow the show".
"Steer numbers are good with crossbreds already at the number we were hoping for," he said.
Poll Merinos will take central stage in the sheep shed as Merino SA celebrates its centenary and pastoral committee member Nick Wadlow is expecting a very strong showing.
"Everyone is keen to get back to showing at Adelaide Show and just get together, the Poll Merinos as the feature breed have created a lot of interest and we are expecting numbers to be up with many preparing more sheep to exhibit," he said.
"We have some interstate judges coming and are expecting our interstate entrants to be up as well, the sale should be very strong again with the way the sheep job is."
The Schools Merino Wether competition - which was one of the few classes to go ahead in the years the show was cancelled- is expected to again have around the 74 teams which were entered in 2021.
The Australian Alpaca Association will hold its national show at the Royal Adelaide Show- the first time it has ever been held in conjunction with a Royal.
AAA board director Lee Sadler said they expected the "best of the best" of Australia's alpacas in attendance.
"With penning available for about 400 alpacas it will be quite a sight to behold," he said.
"The opportunity to showcase the best of our alpacas in front of an Adelaide audience during the hustle and bustle of the Royal Adelaide Show will be fun - even if a little "cosy".
Illawarras are the feature breed in the dairy cattle section.
- Details: theshow.com.au
