Livestock excluded from Bloem Show as FMD risk persists

In a statement issued on 16 January, Bloem Show CEO Elmarie Prinsloo said the decision to cancel the cattle and small-stock sections of the show was taken after extensive consultation with industry leaders and stakeholders. She emphasised that the move was motivated by biosecurity concerns rather than a lack of interest or support from breeders.

“Following the current circumstances regarding FMD in South Africa, it is of great importance that the risk of spread to our cattle, sheep, and goat breeders and farmers is limited as far as possible,” Prinsloo said.

“We are therefore taking the responsible decision, in the interest of our stud breeders, associations, and the broader agriculture sector, to restrict the gathering of cloven-hoofed animals on the Bloemfontein showgrounds until further notice.”

Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Prinsloo confirmed that the cattle and small-stock programme for this year’s show has been cancelled in its entirety. This includes a wide range of provincial, regional, and national championships that traditionally form the backbone of the show’s agricultural programme.

Among the small-stock events that will not go ahead are several national championships, including those for Ile de France, Suffolk, Hampshire Down and Dorper sheep, as well as the national sheep shearing championship.

In the cattle section, national championships for breeds such as Braunvieh, Sussex, Dexter, and Charolais have been cancelled, along with associated auctions and interbreed competitions.

The decision is a major blow to breeders who rely on Bloem Show as a key marketing and networking platform, and to service providers connected to the livestock component of the event.

Prinsloo acknowledged that the cancellation would have significant primary and secondary economic effects on the local economy, affecting exhibitors, contractors, and associated businesses.

“The situation strongly reminds us of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the decision [was] made with consideration of the national situation and crisis caused by FMD,” she said.

According to the show organisers, current data suggests that the peak of the FMD outbreaks has not yet been reached.

They said that, although intensive efforts are under way behind the scenes and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen recently announced a national strategy to tackle the crisis, uncertainty around timelines and residual risk made it impossible to proceed with the livestock component of this year’s show.

Despite the exclusion of cloven-hoofed animals, Bloem Show 2026 will go ahead as planned in all other divisions. The event will take place from 23 April to 2 May and will still feature the National Saddle Horse Show, various horse competitions, the full commercial exhibition, entertainment, a funfair, and food stalls. This comes against the backdrop of earlier optimism around the 2026 show.

In a media release issued in November 2025, Bloem Show reported strong advance bookings, with agricultural championships fully booked, 80% of exhibitions sold, and food stalls already filled.

The 2025 event attracted more than 106 000 visitors and featured nearly 5 800 livestock entries.

Prinsloo said the organisers were confident that role players across the agricultural value chain will understand and support the difficult decision.

“Challenges test our resolve, but they also strengthen our commitment to do what is right,” she added.

For now, breeders will have to forgo one of the country’s flagship livestock show platforms, as biosecurity takes precedence over tradition in a year marked by continued uncertainty for the livestock industry.