Dairy shows have had the PDCA (Purebred Dairy Cattle Association) show ring code of ethics for many years. Historically very few shows had any semblance of an enforcement procedure. Often shows had a policy that any exhibitor could file a complaint against an exhibitor for violating the code of ethics. During the early years of World Dairy Expo, I know of only one formal complaint.

The Holstein Association took a very strong stance toward enforcement of ethics during the 1960's. They developed their own show ring code of ethics for the national Holstein shows. Their code of ethics or show ring policy was very similar to the PDCA code of ethics. This code of ethics was enforced from the early 1970's with varying efforts used to try and detect ethics violations. These efforts ranged from milk sampling to thermographic evaluation of udders. In addition, they provided shows $15,000 in funding to cover the expenses of an enforcement team. This program was discontinued for World Dairy Expo following the 1992 show. The Holstein Association expects World Dairy Expo to continue a strong ethics enforcement procedure for the Expo International Holstein show.

The other breed associations asked through the World Dairy Expo's Dairy Committee to include all breeds in the ethics surveillance and enforcement procedures. Expo has had the responsibility for the enforcement of the code of ethics for all breeds starting with the 1993 show.

A major step in the show ring policy or code of ethics enforcement was the statement included on the World Dairy Expo entry form that committed the owner to the code of ethics enforcement. The statement is shown on the attached entry form. This statement was originally developed by the Holstein Association legal counsel. The show has not had a court challenge to this statement or any action taken by the ethics enforcement committee. We believe very strongly that having the exhibitor's signature on this form very important in the ethics enforcement program. Our goal at World Dairy Expo is to have the ethics enforcement serve as a deferent to actions that violate the show ring policy/code of ethics. Expo has taken action to bar an exhibitor following discovery of a code of ethics violation. Shows must have a written code of ethics as well as enforcement procedures. The code of ethics must be one acceptable to the breed organizations involved with the show. World Dairy Expo believes that the code of ethics must come from or at least in cooperation with the breed organizations.

World Dairy Expo has been very careful to protect the identity of violators during the process of review by the Dairy Committee, the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. We believe that keeping personalities out of the decision making procedure very important to preserve fairness during the judgement process. Just because we don't like a person or how they act is not justification for a conviction. A decision to find a person guilty of a major violation must be made based on the facts pertaining to the violation.

Our lead person on the enforcement team is a licensed veterinarian with more than twenty years dairy practice experience. We believe we are very fortunate in having a practitioner with excellent credentials as a dairy veterinarian. It is absolutely essential in Expo's view that the lead person be a veterinarian. In addition, we use one or two other veterinary practitioners to provide consulting information and confirm findings of our lead veterinarian. We also use other observers to help maintain surveillance during the entire time cattle are on the grounds at World Dairy Expo. We believe having staff involved the entire time contributes to the deterent effect.

We each year have had several "suspect" cows that have not been brought to the show ring. We believe the system we have in place is working to help maintain a level playing field. Our observation is that the enforcement procedure is working as well, if not better, than the program funded by the Holstein Association. This may be due to the enforcement becoming a World Dairy Expo program supported by the various breed associations rather than just a Holstein Association program.

In the enforcement program it is essential to maintain a strong working relationship with the breed organizations. For example, they can be quite helpful in issues of animal identity and ownership of animals. Whenever we are in doubt the breed organizations have been very helpful in Faxing copies of current registration papers.

The ethics committee develop a list of "suspect" animals during week for each breed show. In instances of suspicion of a major violation, we have provided that information to the judge or associate judge to use at his/her discretion. It is a responsibility of the judge to take appropriate action when an animal is found to be in possible violation of the code of ethics. Not all judges seem to be equally committed to upholding the code of ethics. In the future, World Dairy Expo will be working with the selected judges to be sure they understand and support the code of ethics.

Expo does have a policy of examining cows following the show. This may include examination immediately after the class is shown, during and following milk out. This practice appears to have had a deterent effect on activities that might violate the code of ethics. The exact procedures are not kept exactly the same from year to year. We believe this also has a deterent effect on exhibitors who may have a tendency to bend rules.

It is unfortunate that the ethics enforcement brings focus on a very small percentage of the exhibitors. The overwhelming majority of exhibitors are committed to following the rules and prefer a level playing field for all exhibitors.

World Dairy Expo is committed to the Code of Ethics and its enforcement. World Dairy Expo is will and has acted upon violations of it's code of ethics. If a show is not willing to act on violations of its code of ethics there is little reason to have a code of ethics. World Dairy Expo does not proceed with action against an exhibitor unless the violation is clearly established by our ethics vet and his veterinary consultants. World Dairy Expo will continue to seek more effective ways to enforce our code of ethics to maintain a level playing field for all exhibitors. World Dairy Expo will continue to cooperate in any way possible with the breed associations to help strengthen the ethics enforcement program.

The responsibility for adherence to the code of ethics must ultimately be the responsibility of the exhibitors. If the exhibitors decide they will not tolerate unethical actions, they can and must take action to assist in prevention of violations.

The official judge has the authority to order a milk out for the entire show or for individual animals. When milk out is required or requested by the judge, all animals shown in group classes will be milked out.

The World Dairy Expo is one of the premier dairy shows in the world. As an elite show, it has the responsibility to maintain a first-class image of fairness and ethics in its dairy shows. The necessity of regulating certain unethical practices is to maintain a positive international reputation and to make sure good animal husbandry is on display for all spectators. World Dairy Expo seeks to promote good animal husbandry, attractive barn exhibits and a high-quality show for exhibitors and spectators.

World Dairy Expo Show Ring "Code of Ethics"

World Dairy Expo endorses the PDCA Code of Ethics in all breed shows and will give full cooperative support to the judges and the respective National Breed Associations to keep the show procedures within these guidelines. It is recognized theere 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 condition so they might be presented in the show ring in a natural, normal condition. Conversely, the following practices or procedures are considered unacceptable in the showing of cattle.

A. Major violations are defined as being fraudulent and/or unethical in the showing of dairy cattle. These include:

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, with an irritant or counter-irritant, or other substance to artificially improve the conformation.
3. Surgery or insertion of foreign matter under the skin or into body cavities, performed to change the natural contour or appearance of the animal's body 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.

These major violations will be reported to the respective breed associations and show management and can result in animals or exhibitors being barred from showing in their respective breed shows.

B. Severe violations are defined as unethical practices that detract from the show ring. These include:

1. Setting teats or manipulation of a teat to alter its normal position such as to unnaturally hold it plumb or to alter its length is unacceptable.  These severe violations will be given slight to serious discrimination. They will be asked to undo or remove the manipulation before they enter the ring or the judge will give the animal discrimination in class by lowering the animal's class rank.

C. Minor violations are considered to detract from the image of the show ring when carried to excess. These include:

1. Excessive manipulation of hair.
2. Use of artificial hair except for false switches.
3. Unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of showmen.
4. Improper fitting practices, such as over-filling and over-bagging.
5. Mistreatment of an animal.

These violations will be given slight to moderate discrimination by the judge in placing animals within the class.

Enforcement Procedures

An Ethics Committee appointed by show management will be in action at World Dairy Expo. The committee will be on duty during the entire time cattle are on the Dane County Expo grounds.

The Ethics Committee will be responsible for monitoring violations of the show ring code of ethics by exhibitors or their employed representatives. In addition, any complaints of alleged violations can be reported to the Breed Superintendent and/or Ethics Committee. 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.

1. If a major violation is reasonably well established, the Ethics Committee will submit a report to show management, which will be the Dairy Committee Chairman and the Show Superintendent. If there is a conflict, the respective exhibitor will have the opportunity to discuss the violation with show management to determine if they wish to challenge that the potential violation occurred and will have the opportunity to appeal to the Ethics Committee. If its decision is not changed, the exhibitor will be asked not to exhibit the animal in question. If the animal is still exhibited, then a major violation of the Code of Ethics will have occurred. In addition, if a violation of major articles 4 or 5 occurred, the exhibitor will also have committed a major violation. The violation will be reported to the World Dairy Expo Executive Committee. The exhibitor will have the opportunity to appeal this decision to the Executive Committee. After appeal, the World Dairy Expo Board of Directors could bar the exhibitor, employee and/or animal from showing at World Dairy Expo for up to three years. The respective breed association will be notified and could also issue sanctions that will be adhered to by World Dairy Expo.

2. If a serious violation is established by the Ethics Committee, the Ethics Committee will visit with the exhibitor and ask the exhibitor to undo or remove the manipulation prior to entering the show ring. If this is not done, the violation will be reported to the judge for his action in the placing of the class. In addition, if the judge finds a severe violation, he can also utilize this in his placing of the class.

The Ethics Committee will report the serious violation to show management and a letter of severe reprimand will be sent to the exhibitor. Repeated violations could be sent to the Dairy Committee and/or World Dairy Expo Board of Directors or respective breed association for further disciplinary action.

3. If a minor violation is established by the Ethics Committee, the exhibitor will be notified and asked to refrain from such behavior. The judge will be notified of the violation or the judge can also determine if a minor violation has occurred in the show ring and also use it in his placing of the class. The minor violation will be reported to show management and a letter of reprimand could be issued to the exhibitor.

While all animals must be subject to examination, the judge and Ethics Committee are instructed to closely examine the top five animals in each class for any violations of the Code of Ethics. To help in this regard, the judge and/or the Ethics Committee do have the authority to order a milkout of any class where a major violation may have occurred. Upon milkout, the judge can then alter the placings accordingly. Any major violations uncovered during or after the milkout will follow the same procedure described under item #1.