Important Notice to Animal Owners involved in showing animals at Shows

The Irish Shows Association would advise all Animal owners who have their Animals Insured to have the Insurance cover extended to cover them while showing Animals at Shows.  It may cost very little or nothing at all depending on who you have insurance with.

The reason for giving this advice is that if your animal were to injure someone or damage someone's property, and it is established that your animal was out of your control at that time; you may be held responsible or partly responsible for any injury or damage caused, and could end up paying all, or part of any Court Award or settlement reached.

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS – SHEEP

Identification

All sheep must be identified individually with appropriate ear tags issued in accordance with the requirements of the National Sheep Identification System (NSIS).

Movement documentation

All consignments of sheep being moved must be accompanied by a completed dispatch document. Individual details of each sheep in the consignment must be recorded on the document. Sheep from non-restricted flocks only can be moved to shows. In the case of flocks restricted following diagnosis of scrapie, sheep possessing the ARR/ ARR genotype only may be exhibited. The movement of these ARR/ ARR genotype sheep must be accompanied by the relevant movement permit (SCR/10), which can be obtained from the local District Veterinary Office in the county where the flock is located.

Aim notification

The movement of sheep to and from an Agricultural Show within the State must be recorded on AIM. This is done using a copy of the owners sheep dispatch document as follows:

  1. The owner/keeper presents the signed and completed dispatch document to the show secretary who checks it to ensure that it is completed in full.
  2. The show secretary fills in the MART section of the dispatch document with (i) the show number, (ii) the date of the move back to the source holding (iii) stamps it with the show stamp and (iv) signs the dispatch document.
  3. The show secretary then forwards the completed pink section of the dispatch document to the local DVO within 7 days of the show movement.
  4. The show secretary keeps white copy for his/her records.
  5. The source/destination keeper keeps the bottom yellow copy to enter it into their flock register. Ultimate responsibility for fulfilling this requirement lies with the Show Secretary.

Flock register

All movements of sheep to and from shows must be recorded in the keeper’s flock register.

Exports to Northern Ireland

All sheep must be accompanied by a TRACES intra-community trade certificate for ovine animals. A TRACES message, corresponding with the TRACES certificate, will be sent for each animal or consignment being dispatched to the show (this will be performed by Department officials of the DVO). Exhibitors are advised to contact the show society in Northern Ireland well in advance of any show to determine the suitability of the show for return of animals (e.g. premises and sheep status), and whether the authorities will have officials and veterinary staff present to supervise and process documentation for animals returning to origin.

NEW RULE FOR EXHIBITORS

If a qualified exhibitor does not turn up to an ISA final without giving prior notice to the ISA office or to a board member he or she will incur a financial penalty