Farming is finally back on its feet was the message from agricultural chiefs as the Great Yorkshire Show opened today with record numbers of livestock.

Farmers from Bradford, Queemsbury, Denholme and Silsden were among those who had brought 10,000 animals for this year's three-day event with record-breaking entries of sheep and beagles.

But for farmers devastated by the foot and mouth crisis in 2001, this year's show, organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, marked a high point in their recovery.

Edward Fort, of High Bracken Hill Farm, Silsden, who had 188 cattle destroyed in the outbreak, was returning to the show after a four-year break.

He said: "We lost most of our cattle in the foot and mouth outbreak and only now are we getting back to where we were.

"It has been a real challenge but we have built the cattle back up to 200 again and it is good to be here today to promote our stock."

For Embsay farmer John Mason, of Oddacres Farm, the show marked the first year his stock was back on top form. "We lost 500 sheep and about 40 cattle in the foot and mouth crisis," he said.

"But this is the first year we are back to normal and breeding the animals ourselves again."

And for Daniel Varley, 26, of Queenshead Farm, Queensbury, it was all about the competing.

He said: "All our stock had to be put down in the outbreak which was so upsetting because we kept them as pets.

"It took us about 18 months to recover but we managed and even if we come somewhere in the middle today we will have done well."

Elsewhere in the Harrogate showground classes of horses, sheep, pigs and goats were preparing to battle it out for prizes, including three shire horses from Bradford Industrial Museum.

Showjumpers will compete for the final Hornbeam Park Cock O' the North Championship on Thursday.

The finest Yorkshire produce was celebrated in the food hall where The Crusty Pie, of Shelf, and family-run biscuit company Grandma Wilds, of Steeton, impressed food-lovers with their displays. While in the Great Yorkshire Cheese and Dairy Show, sponsored by Bradford-based supermarket Morrisons, continental cheeses, ice-cream and yoghurts were judged on their quality.

Country pursuits and rural crafts including a walling demonstration by the Otley and Yorkshire Dales Branch Dry-Stone Walling Association were also celebrated at the show.

Yorkshire Agricultural Society's honorary show director Christopher Hall said: "We have the highest head count of animals in the history of the show and that says the farmer is feeling better and farming is recovering."

Gates open at 8am each day. For further information visit www.greatyorkshireshow.org or call the ticket hotline on (01423) 541222.