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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.
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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.
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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 (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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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PDCA
Show Ring Code of Ethics