// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Farm show bans cattle and sheep amid outbreak
The latest Defra figures show there are 190 cases in Devon
An agricultural show will not feature any cattle, sheep or goats this year as cases of the potentially deadly bluetongue rise.
Okehampton Show's organisers said they were sad that farm animals, which were at the heart of last year's show, were not appearing at the event on Thursday.
The latest Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) figures showed there were cases at 202 premises in Devon, and at 77 premises in Cornwall.
Organiser Selina Barrow said cases were increasing exponentially, adding: "It's been a really difficult time for local farmers."
Show organiser Selina Barrow said the team had been working closely with vets ahead of the show
Some 353 cases of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV3) have been recorded in the UK in the 2026/27 season - most of them in the south-west of England.
The virus is spread by insects and is generally found in cattle, sheep and goats. It does not affect people or food safety but it causes a high rate of death in infected sheep and fertility problems in infected cattle.
Barrow said the team had been working closely with vets ahead of the show.
"We've worked through lots of different scenarios as to ways that we could keep the cattle and sheep and goat sections going, such as only bringing vaccinated sheep or putting on a really reduced, very local show.