The decision was made yesterday by the chairman of the Queensland show’s veterinary and dairy goat committees, Philip Harpham.

It follows a decision by the Sydney Royal’s organisers to allow dairy goats untested for the “big knee” virus (Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis or CAE) to enter the show.

The Sydney Royal Show’s relaxed disease control rules are reported in this week’s edition of The Land, in newsagents from today.

In a statement sent to The Land this morning, Mr Harpham said goats entered in the Queensland show, referred to by most as “the Ekka”, has “always required” goats to be free of the disease.

CAE, known as Caprine Retro Virus (CRV) in Queensland, causes arthritis and wasting in goats.

“If these dairy goats mix with non-accredited, non-tested animals, there is a risk of them contracting the virus and spreading it to dairy goats at the Ekka,” Mr Harpham said.

“We’ve listened to the advice of Biosecurity Queensland and for the health of the animals and the livelihood of breeders, the RNA will not allow dairy goats shown in Sydney this weekend, to be shown at Ekka.”