The 12th National Sheep Breeders' Fair opened on May 24 with kukeri dances and bagpipe music - to drive away evil spirits.

In the vicinity of the Sts Peter and Paul Monastery in Lyaskovets, near Veliko Tarnovo, five-year-old girl Minneh Ismail performed "When I was a Little Shepherd", a song symbolising the idyllic life of shepherds, a traditional Bulgarian livelihood, which has been the economic engine of the Bulgarian revival. 

Co-President of the National Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders Simeon Karakolev wished the farmers strength to move forward and consumers "to appreciate the taste of Bulgarian meat and farmers' products, which are on their way of becoming extinct". Deputy Agriculture Minister Ivan Kapitanov promised state support for the sector. Nearly 1 000 animals of 30 breeds - sheep, goats, dogs, horses and donkeys - will be on show at the fair. Competitions for sheep shearing, horse races and the traditional heaviest goat contest will be held until 26 May.