SHOW RING STANDARDS SET IN NEW PDCA CODE OF ETHICS

Columbus, Ohio, April 3, 2004—The Purebred Dairy Cattle Association (PDCA) today approved sweeping revisions to its Show Ring Code of Ethics.

The revised code states what is, and is not, acceptable practice in preparing purebred dairy cattle for shows, fairs and expositions at all levels of competition in the United States. It takes effect immediately.

The revision process involved consultation over the past year with owners and exhibitors of purebred dairy cattle, show judges, youth program leaders, fair managers, and state regulatory officials.

There was broad consensus that fairness in the show ring requires that all animals be presented so judges can accurately evaluate their natural conformation and mobility. Conversely, practices that misrepresent the animals in any way; threaten their health, safety or welfare; or violate law should not be tolerated.

“ Exhibitors take great pride in being able to make their animals look their best, and everyone enjoys looking at a great class of cows, no matter what the breed is,” said Jersey association CEO Neal Smith, chair of the subcommittee that drafted the revisions.

“ What we heard was that PDCA’s rules were not specific enough in some areas and out of date in others. They needed to be plain and simple and, above all, they had to be enforceable. This new Code of Ethics is a significant improvement over what we had before.”

Uniform standards for accepted grooming practices have been established in the revised code, Smith noted. A range of practices considered false, deceptive or unacceptable were defined as violations subject to disciplinary action. The code also provides guidelines for monitoring and enforcement by show management and/or the national dairy breed organizations. Key revisions are summarized below.

Exhibitor Responsibility
The revised code includes several references to “exhibitor” responsibility, based on language from the International Association of Fairs and Exhibitions (IAFE). To summarize, absolute responsibility for an animal’s condition at a show lies with the owner, exhibitor, fitter and/or responsible agent.

Violations
Violations that are to be reported to show management were defined as follows:
1. Misrepresenting the age and/or milking status of the animal for the class in which it is shown.
2. Treating the animal, particularly the udder, internally or externally:
a. with an irritant or counter-irritant,
b. using a device to artificially create or enhance the udder crease,
c. using other substances as detected by testing that cause changes in the udder to artificially improve the conformation.
d. plugging of teat canal with foreign substances.
3. Surgical or unethical insertion of any matter under the skin or into body cavities, performed to change the natural contour or appearance of the animal’s body (e.g., administration of fluid via a stomach tube or other similar apparatus to fill the rumen), though not to preclude practices required or involved in normal management.
4. Criticizing or interfering with the judge, show management or other exhibitors while in the show ring or other conduct detrimental to the breed or the show.
5. Challenging, threatening or interfering with an ethics committee appointed by show management to monitor the animals on exhibit on the show grounds.

Topline Hair
The reference to “excessive manipulation of hair” in the previous code has been replaced by the following rule: “The maximum allowable length of naturally growing hair anywhere on the topline is not to exceed 1 inch.” The addition of foreign objects, including but not limited to hair or hair substitutes, cloth or fiber, is prohibited.

Ethics Committees
An Ethics Committee responsible for monitoring violations and receiving complaints should be appointed for each show. The make-up of the committee may vary between county, state, regional, and national shows, but ideally will include official breed representatives, show management, the official veterinarian, and Extension representative. Additionally, procedures for reporting and investigating violations were revised. Possible sanctions were added, ranging from forfeiting awards to disqualification of the animal and/or exhibitor.

Complete Code
For a complete copy of the revised PDCA Show Ring Code of Ethics, effective April 3, 2004, write Purebred Dairy Cattle Association, 2820 Walton Commons W, Madison, WI 53718-6797, phone 608/224-0400, or send email to pdca@wdexpo.com.

The Purebred Dairy Cattle Association, Inc. is a federation of the national dairy breed registry associations serving breeders and owners of Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn and Red and White dairy cattle. PDCA and its member organizations promote the added value and profitability registered dairy cattle offer all dairy business owners.

Following is the revised version of the PDCA Show Ring Code of Ethics Guidelines.

The Purebred Dairy Cattle Association
Show Ring Code of Ethics
Adopted April 3, 2004

The showing of registered dairy cattle stimulates and sustains interest in the breeding registered dairy cattle. It is also an important part of the promotion, merchandising and breeding program of many breeders. For these reasons, the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association (PDCA) believes that it is in the best interest of all breeders of registered dairy cattle to maintain a reputation of integrity in dairy cattle shows and to present a wholesome and progressive image of dairy cattle in the show ring.
PDCA endorses this Show Ring Code of Ethics for all dairy breed shows and pledges its full cooperative support for its enforcement to show management, show judges, and the national breed associations.

The application of this Code of Ethics provides for absolute responsibility for an animal’s condition by an owner, exhibitor, fitter or participant whether or not he or she was actually instrumental in or had actual knowledge of the treatment of the animal in contravention of this Code of Ethics. Dairy cattle exhibitors shall at all times deport themselves with honesty and good sportsmanship.
It is recognized that there are certain practices in the proper care and management of dairy cattle that are necessary in the course of moving dairy cattle to and between shows that are advisable to keep them in a sound, healthy state so they might be presented in the show ring in a natural, normal condition. At all times, exhibition livestock shall be treated in a humane manner and in accordance with dairy quality assurance practices so as to protect the health, safety and welfare of the livestock and the consuming public. No person shall present for exhibition or exhibit an animal which he or she knows, or has reason to suspect, is affected with or has been exposed to a dangerously contagious or infectious disease, disease, or illegal or non-approved use of drugs, medication and/or prohibited substance, or residue.
The position of the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association is that all animals presented for exhibition shall be in their natural conformation and structure, free of any alteration or modification by injection or internal or external administration of any substance or by any involvement in unethical fitting.

Grooming and Preparation
Dairy cattle exhibitions are conducted under standards for evaluating conformation established by the PDCA Unified Score Card (1994), with specific breed characteristics taken into consideration by the show judge. In this connection, animals will be groomed and prepared for the judge’s evaluation in order to display the animal’s natural contour, conformation, performance and mobility. Specifically:
1. External applications of cosmetics that affect only appearance may be used, including by way of example hoof polishes and false switches.
2. The maximum allowable length of naturally growing hair anywhere on the topline is not to exceed 1”. Exhibitors will be required to comply with this rule before the animal is allowed to enter the ring.
3. Addition of foreign objects, including but not limited to hair or hair substitutes, cloth or fiber, to change the natural contour or appearance of the animal’s body is prohibited.
4. Externally sealing the teat end with a preparation that does not harm the animal’s skin is permissible. Natural teat placement will be given preference over artificially positioned teats.

Violations: False, Deceptive or Unacceptable Practices
These practices are violations of the Code of Ethics and will be reported to show management and may be reported to the respective national breed associations:
1. Misrepresenting the age and/or milking status of the animal for the class in which it is shown.
2. Treating the animal, particularly the udder, internally or externally:
a. with an irritant or counter-irritant,
b. using a device to artificially create or enhance the udder crease,
c. using other substances as detected by testing that causes changes in the udder to artificially improve the conformation.
d. plugging of teat canal with foreign substances.
3. Surgical or unethical insertion of any matter under the skin or into body cavities, performed to change the natural contour or appearance of the animal’s body (i.e., administration of fluid via a stomach tube or other similar apparatus to fill the rumen), though not to preclude practices required or involved in normal management.
4. Criticizing or interfering with the judge, show management or other exhibitors while in the show ring or other conduct detrimental to the breed or the show.
5. Challenging, threatening or interfering with an ethics committee appointed by show management to monitor the animals on exhibit on the show grounds.

Exhibitor Responsibility
The act of entering an animal in a livestock show is the giving of consent by the owner, exhibitor, fitter and/or absolutely responsible person (hereinafter referred to as “Exhibitor”) for show management to obtain any specimens of urine, saliva, blood, milk, or other substances from the animal to be used in testing. Materials may also be collected by ultrasound and photographic methods and by direct examination of animal.
The act of entering an animal is the giving of consent by the owner, exhibitor, fitter and/or absolutely responsible person (the “Exhibitor”) to have disciplinary action for violation of this Show Ring Code of Ethics taken by show management, the state in which the show occurs, and/or the national dairy breed association without recourse.

Show Ethics Committee
Each show should have an Ethics Committee. The make-up of this committee should include official breed representatives, representative(s) of show management (e.g., dairy cattle show superintendent, General Manager), the official show veterinarian, and Extension representative.
The Ethics Committee will be responsible for monitoring violations of the Show Ring Code of Ethics. The Ethics Committee will investigate the report of any violation and determine the accuracy of the allegation. The Ethics Committee will have the authority to inspect animals and related material to determine if violations have occurred.

Violations: Reporting and Investigation
Complaints of alleged violations can be reported to the breed superintendent, the show superintendent, show management, and/or the Ethics Committee.

Before An Animal is Shown
If the Ethics Committee suspects that a violation of the Show Ring Code of Ethics will occur if the animal is shown, and that violation is reasonably well established before the animal is shown, the Ethics Committee will submit a report to show management.
Show management will discuss the violation with the Exhibitor:
1. If, at the Exhibitor’s discretion, the animal in question is not shown, no violation will have occurred.
2. If the Exhibitor wishes to challenge that a violation occurred, he/she/they will have opportunity to appeal to the Ethics Committee. If its decision is not changed, the Exhibitor will be denied opportunity to exhibit the animal in question.

During and After An Animal is Shown
All animals are subject to examination during judging. The judge and Ethics Committee are instructed to examine the top five (5) animals in each class closely for violations of the Show Ring Code of Ethics. When a violation may have occurred, a milkout may be called for. This call may be by breed association rule, or by request of an authorized representative of the national breed association, the judge, the Ethics Committee, or show management.
If an animal is exhibited and a violation of the Show Ring Code of Ethics is subsequently suspected, investigated, and determined to have occurred, the violation will be reported to the Ethics Committee and show management for action. The Exhibitor will be notified of the violation and the supporting evidence and invited to defend or explain the allegations.
Violations are subject to the disciplinary provisions of show management, the state in which the show occurs, and the national dairy breed association. Sanctions may include any one, or combination of the following:
· forfeiture or return of awards, prizes, premiums or proceeds;
· written letter of reprimand to the owner, exhibitor, fitter and/or absolutely responsible person (the “Exhibitor”);
· disqualification of the exhibition livestock from an exhibition;
· disqualification of the Exhibitor from the show;
· publication of offense.
Disqualification may include any or all shows and classes and may be for any number of years.

History: Adopted by PDCA in March 1969, revised March 1971, February 1977, February 1981, February 1986, February 1988, February 1989, February 1992, February 1993, November 1995, April 2002; April 2004.