Went to Yorkshire Show this week and was stopped from entering the cattle lines in the traditional way to look at the cattle by aggressive looking security guards anybody know the reason why not much point a dairy farmer going to the show if you are not allowed to look at the cows
No Cows at GYS
- Thread starter Dancingbrave
- Start date
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Same as many shows now. H&S gone mad. Some disallow even stock farmers in during showing / cattle movements
You have the faff of going to find a steward and get a pass or wrist band (if you're lucky)
Nearly
Member
- Location
- North of York
There was a salmonella scare?
Never really understood the showing 'thing'.
Never really understood the showing 'thing'.
borderterribles
Member
- Location
- South Shropshire
Was this during the judging? If it was it is pretty much standard procedure at all larger agricultural shows. It keeps the General Public out of harms way when cattle are being moved to the judging rings, and back.
Same last time I went. Got the H&S excuse because they were moving cattle for judging. Quite late in the afternoon before access was allowed. Won't be going again.
borderterribles
Member
- Location
- South Shropshire
Speaking as an exhibitor, it is preferable that we are able to prepare our stock and take them to and from the ring, without having to look out for the potential problems that can arise when people unused to livestock are in close proximity. Going in day at the GYS for cattle is Monday and today is Thursday, and the GP will have had full access throughout the other three days. I appreciate that other farmers are very unlikely to cause a problem by being in the sheds on judging day, but it can't be for the security guys on the doors to decide who can and can't go in, can it?
No it was all day every day that was the excuse a bowler hatted steward used when I questioned him
The general public definitely did not have access on any days you were not even allowed to watch the judging except from the far side of the ring where you could see very little and hear nothing
- Location
- Scottish Borders
For what it’s worth, I was surprised to be able to take the kids down the cattle lines at this year’s highland. Security on the doors, but just walked in . Gotta say it was a real treat just to see them all !
that's what it used to be like at the GYS but sadly no more
- Location
- North Somerset.
Same at Three Counties pre covid the first and last time I will go there.
- Location
- Buxton, Derbyshire
As an exhibitor I love having the public come round the cattle lines. I've even been known to open up barriers to let people in myself when the stewards have gone off for lunch 
However I hate having the public (farmers included) around during judging! They just get in the way when you are getting ready, ask stupid questions when you are clearly busy and then you have to elbow your way past them, the pushchair and their dog to get to the judging ring!
Stafford is the worst for not letting the public into the cattle lines at any time. Even at the English winter fair you need a wristband to get in!
However I hate having the public (farmers included) around during judging! They just get in the way when you are getting ready, ask stupid questions when you are clearly busy and then you have to elbow your way past them, the pushchair and their dog to get to the judging ring!
Stafford is the worst for not letting the public into the cattle lines at any time. Even at the English winter fair you need a wristband to get in!
- Location
- Wormingford, Essex
Trouble is, the cattle lines are generally badly designed for the public to view the animals. One of the local to me shows have the cattle in a good size marquee, gates all the way around the outside with the cattle tied to them, facing out. Public aren't allowed in the marquee but can see all the cattle from the end they are interested in (not the arse) by walking around the outside, and it leaves plenty of room inside for exhibitors. They also spread the judging out over the day so there is something to see in the ring in the afternoon as well as the morning.As an exhibitor I love having the public come round the cattle lines. I've even been known to open up barriers to let people in myself when the stewards have gone off for lunch
However I hate having the public (farmers included) around during judging! They just get in the way when you are getting ready, ask stupid questions when you are clearly busy and then you have to elbow your way past them, the pushchair and their dog to get to the judging ring!
Stafford is the worst for not letting the public into the cattle lines at any time. Even at the English winter fair you need a wristband to get in!
- Location
- Northumberland
Wasn't difficult to get into the cattle sheds.
Security was on the track between the sheds and judging rings. Probably good as it limited the number of people in that area.
Go to the next track up between the 2 sheds was free access.
Security was on the track between the sheds and judging rings. Probably good as it limited the number of people in that area.
Go to the next track up between the 2 sheds was free access.
- Location
- Staffordshire Moorlands
As an exhibitor I love having the public come round the cattle lines. I've even been known to open up barriers to let people in myself when the stewards have gone off for lunch
However I hate having the public (farmers included) around during judging! They just get in the way when you are getting ready, ask stupid questions when you are clearly busy and then you have to elbow your way past them, the pushchair and their dog to get to the judging ring!
Stafford is the worst for not letting the public into the cattle lines at any time. Even at the English winter fair you need a wristband to get in!
We walked straight into cattle lines at winter fair this last time with no magic pass.
How can they expect you to see all the beasts unless you sit round the ring all weekend. Perhaps they don't want you to.
Id of thought exhibitors would be glad of folk walking round, alot of potential customers surely.
Winter fair is one of my favourites but there was noticeably less there this last time and the day they stop you walking round the stock would be my last time there.
Netherfield
Member
- Location
- West Yorkshire
Stopped bothering 30 years ago, ages queuing to get in to the car parks, when it 's time to leave all the car park stewards have buggered off home early, and a nightmare to get out.
Even the so called members car park was full by 9 in a morning back then.
- Location
- Northumberland
Nowt worse than sitting in a queue. Havn`t been for about 5 years but saw a chance to go this year
Left home at 4.15. Into car park at 6 before the stewards had started so got parked next to the entrance.
A phone call to my connections inside brought a pass to the gate. Though walked in & no one checked it
Breakfast in the stockmans canteen. Never got further than the dairy lines. Must have chatted to close to 100 folk I had not seen for about 4 years
Into the car at 3.15. Home by 5 .
Cracking day
- Location
- Northumberland
Thread title - No Cows at GYS - might be a prophesy.
Dairy exhibitors properly peed off.
4 day show now so extra day away from home = added expense
Dairy Judging day moved to thursday was the biggest issue. Cows went in on Sunday & had to be kept right til Thursday. Not easy the way the weather was
Last night getting off the site was the worst organised in 30 years our lad has been going. Cattle didn`t get back till 11.30pm We are only 2 hours away. Traffic generally was always going to be worse on a Friday night than usual Thursday
Meanwhile the bowler hats are gazing in awe at all the £££ they have generated, oblivious to the fact that a big show of cattle is a major attraction at their event & with a bit of thought they could keep the cattle exhibitors on side.
But they know best
Problem is none of the chief bowler hats have shown dairy cattle so have no idea of the work or cost involved
Dairy exhibitors properly peed off.
4 day show now so extra day away from home = added expense
Dairy Judging day moved to thursday was the biggest issue. Cows went in on Sunday & had to be kept right til Thursday. Not easy the way the weather was
Last night getting off the site was the worst organised in 30 years our lad has been going. Cattle didn`t get back till 11.30pm We are only 2 hours away. Traffic generally was always going to be worse on a Friday night than usual Thursday
Meanwhile the bowler hats are gazing in awe at all the £££ they have generated, oblivious to the fact that a big show of cattle is a major attraction at their event & with a bit of thought they could keep the cattle exhibitors on side.
But they know best
Problem is none of the chief bowler hats have shown dairy cattle so have no idea of the work or cost involved
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Not been to the GYS for quite some time. The last time I was there a girl took a fair old kick from a limmy heifer - pretty sure she was part of the outfit showing the beast BUT it did really make me think about all those people milling around in the cattle lines that year. The problem I could see was that a lot of people who obviously knew nothing about cattle were FAR TOO CLOSE in the unlikely event that a beast suddenly got spooked - I`d always thought it was marvellous that the general public could get so close to those superb animals turned out so well but that day I saw a potentially serious accident waiting to happen.... If that girl had been a small child (of the annoying type!!) that had suddenly got far too close to that beast it could have been VERY serious.. Just food for thought .
Personally walked around cattle/ sheep and pigs at the GYS on Tuesday with my 3 year old and 19 moth old, they wanted to see them, I could just have been a member of the public to anyone else 