The biosecurity controls at shows are more relaxed. Why is this?
A. Livestock shows have to be licensed by Defra in the same way as markets. The biosecurity conditions are similar in many respects but the risk of disease spread from livestock shows is not as high as it is from markets. There are fewer animals at many livestock shows and at the larger shows they tend to be kept in discrete groups. The overall stocking density (i.e. animals per 100 square yards) is much less at shows if compared to markets. The livestock at shows do not get the chance to mix with other livestock – they are kept apart while in their pens, stalls or accommodation and are paraded in lines during the parades. There is therefore much reduced contact for livestock at shows as compared to markets where the animals use the same loading and off-loading facilities and are packed into pens adjacent to other animals awaiting sale. After they are sold the livestock are often mixed with others if more than one lot has been purchased by a single person or company. The personal biose
