THE Livestock Pavilion will be at capacity at this year's Royal Melbourne Show (RMS) - a situation that thrills Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) chief executive officer Mark O'Sullivan.
Horses and dogs have even had to be balloted out.
"I am delighted with the strength of all the competitions' entries," Mr O'Sullivan said.
"Beef cattle for example, have in excess of 650 entries, which is an increase of close to five per cent from last year.
"It will be a full pavilion of quality cattle."
Judging of the beef carcase competition will run on Tuesday, September 23, and Wednesday, September 24, followed by the beef cattle competition, to be judged from Saturday, September 27, to Tuesday, September 30.
The program has been shortened, with exhibitors required to attend no more than five days.
The Highland is this year's feature breed in the cattle competition, with a dedicated feature show to be held on Saturday, September 27.
International expert judge Cameron Ormiston, Scotland, who comes from generations of Highland farming and is Queen Elizabeth II's herdsman at Balmoral Castle, will preside over the Highland feature show.
The distinctive breed will join with Clydesdales - which are celebrating 100 years since the first Clydesdale champion was sashed at the RMS - for a Scottish celebration, complete with bagpipers and folk dancers.
The event will be held in the arena on Sunday, September 28.
Judging of the beef interbreed competition will be held on Tuesday, September 30.
Judging for prestigious beef carcase award the Borthwick Trophy, will be held on Wednesday, September 24, with the award to be presented on Monday, September 29.
Entries for the carcase competition were up by 13pc to 261 head, Mr O'Sullivan said.
"We've enjoyed a gradual increase in the entries to the beef carcase competition, including with more agricultural colleges and schools seeing the value of this practical competition, and commercial producers are always very interested in the data they get from over-the-hooks," he said.
Entries in the sheep competition, to be held from Saturday, September 20, to Monday, September 22, were up about 10pc, Mr O'Sullivan said.
The Border Leicester is this year's feature breed, with a dedicated feature show to be held on Sunday, September 21.
The show will be held in conjunction with the Kelso Park stud centenary.
This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the Poll Dorset breed - established after an inaugural meeting was held at the RMS on September 28, 1954, to be celebrated with a breeders afternoon tea on Saturday, September 20.
For the first time, the RMS sheep competition will include March-shorn classes for Merinos.
Friday, September 26, will be 'Wool Day', which will celebrate the harvesting, processing and end products of Australia's wool.
The fleece competition will be judged in the public arena, along with activities demonstrating classing, wool-pressing, stencilling and garment production.
There will be shearing and fleece-skirting, as well as fashion, arts and crafts on display.
