The Okehampton Show has cancelled its livestock display due to an outbreak of bluetongue disease.

In the current 2026/27 season, 353 cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV3) have been recorded in the UK. The majority of infections are concentrated in the southwestern regions of the country. According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the disease has been detected in 202 holdings in Devon and 77 holdings in Cornwall. Previously, a similar decision to restrict livestock participation in events was made by the organizers of the Launceston Agricultural Show.

Organizing committee representative Selina Barrow noted that the situation regarding the spread of the virus is complicated by an exponential increase in the number of cases, which creates serious difficulties for local agricultural producers. The organizers considered various options for holding the exhibition, including allowing only vaccinated animals or reducing the scale of the exposition. However, due to the unpredictability of the situation and the need to curb the movement of people from other regions, the decision was made to completely abandon the demonstration of the specified animal species.

The bluetongue virus is transmitted by insects and affects cattle, sheep, and goats. The disease poses no threat to humans or food safety; however, for infected sheep, it is characterized by a high mortality rate, and in cattle, it causes fertility problems.