AHA Show Rules
- All cattle including calves on the side of cow-calf pairs and senior yearlings entered must be registered in the Herd Book of the American Hereford Association (AHA). Entries with registrations “pending” or illegible tattoos or improper tattoos as shown on the registration certificate at check-in time are ineligible for competition. Exhibitors are subject to the Association’s special rule on class qualification. Entries in these classes are accepted with the understanding that the exhibitor agrees to abide by the rule in all respects.
- The exhibition of cattle displaying false hair will not be allowed.
- Any product administered internally or used externally to alter the conformation of an animal for exhibition is prohibited. This includes the use of graphite, hemp or other similar substances externally and steroids or growth stimulants internally.
- The act of artificially filling animals internally, which includes stomach pumping, drench tubes or any other method by mouth or esophagus is prohibited.
- All animals shown in group classes must have been shown in their respective single age class. No transfer from one (1) breed to another, after entry, will be permitted.
- Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) values will be provided to the judge and audience for all animals shown. Animals without EPD data are eligible to show, but will have N/A (not available) in place of missing data
- Any animal without a legible tattoo will not be eligible to show.
- All Hereford animals must be officially recorded (registered) prior to show date to be eligible to show at a National Hereford Show.
- An animal that is scurred (Scurs are small, rudimentary horns that are loosely attached to the head, which are considered to be expressed only in animals that are genetically heterozygous for the polled gene) will show in the polled division of Hereford shows. Once an animal is confirmed to be scurred by an AHA field representative, then this designation will be placed on the animal’s registration papers. Once this determination has been made and reported to the AHA office, then the owner may remove the scurs. Animals with scurs removed will show in the polled division of Hereford shows. Once an animal is confirmed polled or scurred they will retain this designation forever.
- The individual classes will be made up and divided after the cattle are checked in at the show. They will be judged from the youngest class to the oldest within each class.
- It is recommended by the AHA Show Committee that classes with 10 or more head be considered to be split, depending on animals’ birthdates in each particular class.
- If the number of classes in a division warrant, a division will be split into multiple divisions
- Calves on the side of cow-calf pairs MUST BE the cow’s natural calf.
- For cattle exhibited at the Cattlemen’s Congress and the National Western Stock Show:
- Exhibitors with senior bull calves, intermediate, yearling and senior bulls are required to provide a licensed veterinarian’s statement indicating the bull has been semen checked and evaluated as fertile. Semen evaluation is to occur within 90 days of the show. This statement must be presented at check-in during the National Western Stock Show.
- Exhibitors with females in the spring and junior yearling divisions must be confirmed pregnant within 45 days of show by a licensed veterinarian or by blood test or show with a calf at side.
AHA Show Classifications
The decision to have both a Hereford and polled Hereford show or to have a combined show will be left up to the discretion of the state breed associations and show management.
Level 1 National Point Show
Cattlemen’s Congress, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Level 2 National Point Show
American Royal, Kansas City, Mo.
Keystone International Livestock Exposition, Harrisburg, Penn.
National Western Stock Show, Denver, Colo.
North American International Livestock Exposition, Louisville, Ky.
Southwestern Livestock Exposition, Ft. Worth, Texas
Western States Hereford Show, Reno, Nev.
State And Regional Hereford Female Show Classifications
- Cow-calf (Any female older than the below ages with a calf at side.)
- Calf older than 240 days of age on the show date is not eligible to show in cow-calf class.
- If the cow is horned and the calf polled, then the pair shows in the horned cow-calf class, and if the cow is polled and the calf is horned, then the pair shows in the polled cow-calf class.
- Calf is eligible for individual classes but must be entered in the appropriate class.
- Cow-calf does not compete for overall champion female.
- Spring heifer calves calved March 1 to June 30.
- Junior heifer calves calved Jan. 1 to Feb. 29.
- Senior heifer calves calved Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
- Senior heifer calves calved Aug. 1 to Oct. 31.
- Late summer yearling females calved June 1 to July 31.
- Early summer yearling females calved May 1 to 31.
- Spring yearling females calved March 1 to April 30.
- Junior yearling females calved Jan. 1 to Feb. 29.
- Senior yearling females calved Aug.1 to Dec. 31.
* For shows occurring January 1 – May 1, a senior yearling female class and division will be allowed. Females must show with a calf at side.
Female divisions
Junior Heifer Calves ……….. Class(es) 2 & 3
Senior Heifer Calves ……….. Class(es) 4 & 5
Intermediate Yearling Females .. Class(es) 6 & 7
Spring Yearling Females …….. Class 8
Junior Yearling Females …….. Class 9
Senior Yearling Females …….. Class 10
* If there are more than 10 animals in a class, the AHA show committee recommends that the class be split.
State and regional Hereford bull show classifications
- Spring bull calves calved after March 1 to June 30.
- Junior bull calves calved Jan. 1 to Feb. 29.
- Senior bull calves calved Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
- Senior bull calves calved Aug. 1 to Oct. 31.
- Late summer yearling bulls calved June 1 to July 31.
- Early summer yearling bulls calved May 1 to 31.
- Spring yearling bulls calved March 1 to April 30.
- Junior yearling bulls calved Jan. 1 to Feb. 29.
- Senior yearling bulls calved Aug. 1 to Dec. 31.
- Two-year-old bulls calved Jan. 1 to July 31.
Bull divisions
Junior Bull Calves …………. Class(es) 1 & 2
Senior Bull Calves ………………. Class(es) 3 & 4
Intermediate Bulls ……….. Class(es) 5 & 6
Yearling Bulls …………………. Class(es) 7 & 8
Senior Bulls …………………….. Class(es) 9 & 10
* If there are more than 10 animals in a class, the AHA show committee recommends that the class be split.
National Hereford female show classifications
- Cow-calf (Any female older than the below ages with a calf at side.)
- Calf older than 240 days of age on the show date is not eligible to show in cow-calf class.
- If the cow is horned and the calf polled, then the pair shows in the horned cow-calf class, and if the cow is polled and the calf is horned, then the pair shows in the polled cow-calf class.
- Calf is eligible for individual classes but must be entered in the appropriate class.
- Cow-calf does not compete for overall champion female.
- Spring heifer calves calved after May 1 to June 30.
- Spring heifer calves calved April 1 to 30.
- Spring heifer calves calved March 1 to 31.
- Junior heifer calves calved Feb. 1 to 29.
- Junior heifer calves calved Jan. 1 to 31.
- Senior heifer calves Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
- Senior heifer calves calved Oct. 1 to 31.
- Senior heifer calves calved Aug. 1 to Sept. 30.
- Late summer yearling females calved June 1 to July 31.
- Early summer yearling females calved May 1 to 31.
- Spring yearling females calved April 1 to 30.
- Spring yearling females calved March 1 to 31.
- Junior yearling females calved Feb. 1 to 29.
- Junior yearling females calved Jan. 1 to 31.
- Senior yearling females calved Aug. 1 to Dec. 31.
- For shows occurring after January 1 (Denver and Ft. Worth), a senior yearling female class and division will be allowed. Females must show with a calf at side.
Female divisions
Spring Heifer Calves ……….. Class(es) 2 & 3
Junior Heifer Calves ……….. Class(es) 4 & 5
Senior Heifer Calves ……….. Class(es) 6, 7 & 8
Intermediate Yearling Females .. Class(es) 9 & 10
Spring Yearling Females …….. Class 11
Junior Yearling Females …….. Class 12
Senior Yearling Females …….. Class 13
AHA reserves the right to break classes so a 30 day age span may be maintained in the spring, junior, winter and senior calf classes. (Classes 2-9)
National Hereford bull show classifications
- Spring bull calves calved May 1 to June 30.
- Spring bull calves calved April 1 to 30.
- Spring bull calves calved March 1 to 31
- Junior bull calves calved Feb. 1 to Feb. 29.
- Junior bull calves calved Jan. 1 to Jan. 31.
- Senior bull calves Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.
- Senior bull calves calved Oct.1 to 31.
- Senior bull calves calved Aug. 1 to Sept. 30.
- Late summer yearling bulls calved June 1 to July 31.
- Early summer yearling bulls calved May 1 to 31.
- Spring yearling bulls calved April 1 to 30.
- Spring yearling bulls calved March 1 to 31.
- Junior yearling bulls calved Feb. 1 to 29.
- Junior yearling bulls calved Jan. 1 to 31.
- Senior yearling bulls calved Aug. 1 to Dec. 31.
- Two-year old bulls calved Jan. 1 to July 31.
Bull divisions
Spring Bull Calves ………. Class(es) 1, 2 & 3
Junior Bull Calves ………. Class(es) 4 & 5
Senior Bull Calves ………. Class(es) 6, 7 & 8
Intermediate Bulls ………. Class(es) 9 & 10
Yearling Bulls ………….. Class(es) 11, 12, 13 & 14
Senior Bulls ……………. Class(es) 15 & 16
* If there are more than 10 animals in a class, the AHA show committee recommends that the class be split.
AHA reserves the right to break classes so a 30 day age span may be maintained in the spring, junior, winter and senior calf classes. (Classes 1-6)
Group classes
Get-of-sire — Four animals shown in above single entry classes with both sexes represented and all progeny of one sire. It is permissible to use either the cow or calf from a cow-calf pair for the get-of-sire. Get-of-sire may be comprised of animals from one or more owners and of both horned and/or polled animals.
Best six head — All animals must have been shown in their respective single entry classes and they must be owned by the exhibitor or by a member of his/her immediate family. A cow-calf will be considered as two head in the best six head class. Best six head may be comprised of both horned and/or polled animals.
Premier exhibitor, Premier breeder
Awarded with the following point system: first place = 5 points, second place = 4 points, third place = 3 points, fourth place = 2 points and fifth place = 1 point. No points will be given for champions. Points will be awarded for the best six head for premier exhibitor. The same scoring system as above will be used for awarding points for the group classes. It is suggested that banners be given to the premier exhibitor and the premier breeder.
National Junior Show Ownership Rule
Cow-calf pairs, females and steers may be jointly owned by siblings provided all are individual members of the National Junior Hereford Association and are between the ages of 7 and 22 as of January 1 of the current year. No animal is eligible to compete if recorded in joint ownership (other than the sibling rule) or ownership of farm or family name. Bred-and-owned bulls, however, may be owned by the exhibitor, a ranch/family name as long as the junior exhibitor is also the breeder.
National and regional show point system
Placing National Show Regional Show
1 ………………………………………………………. 10 ……………………………………. 5
2 ……………………………………………………….. 9 …………………………………….. 4
3 ……………………………………………………….. 8 …………………………………….. 3
4 ……………………………………………………….. 7 …………………………………….. 2
5 ……………………………………………………….. 6 …………………………………….. 1
6 ……………………………………………………….. 5 …………………………………….. 0
7 ……………………………………………………….. 4 …………………………………….. 0
8 ……………………………………………………….. 3 …………………………………….. 0
9 ……………………………………………………….. 2 …………………………………….. 0
10……………………………………………………….. 1 ……………………………………… 0
Division Champion ………………… 10 …………………………………….. 5
Reserve Champion …………………. 5 ……………………………………… 3
Grand Champion ……………………. 20 …………………………………….. 10
Reserve Grand Champion ….. 10 ……………………………………… 5
Points for show bull and show female of the year will be based on the Regional Show Point System. Animals do not have to show in a regional show in order to be eligible for show bull or female of the year in the respective four quadrants. An animal may only win show bull or female of the year for one quadrant per year. Ownership percentage followed by ownership succession (breeder, first owner, second owner, etc.) will determine from which quadrant the animal will be recognized.
AHA point shows and awards
- Official results from the show staff must be submitted within 30 days of completion of the show
- Results must contain the following:
- Eight-digit AHA registration number
- Complete registration name as recorded in the AHA registration system
- Owner(s) as listed on the papers from the AHA registration system
- In order for results to be included in the calculation for show animals of the year, shows must have at least 25 head exhibited at the show
- Shows that are listed as a national or regional point show as specified by the AHA show and sale committee will submit results to Bailey Clanton with the AHA at bclanton@hereford.org or mail them to American Hereford Association, Attn: Bailey Clanton, 11500 N Ambassador Drive, Ste. 410, Kansas City, MO 64153.
At the AHA Annual Meeting and National Hereford Show in Kansas City, Mo., the Association will recognize four national show animals of the year, 16 regional show animals of the year and recognize eight regional premier exhibitors of the year.
- National Show Bull and Female of the Year for horned and polled
- Regional Show Bull and Female of the Year for horned and polled
- Regional Premier Exhibitor for horned and polled
DNA rule change
Please see AHA Rules and Regulations amendment to Rule 4 of Section VII on Page 30.
REGIONAL POINT SHOWS
Southeast
Alabama National Fair, Montgomery
Appalachian District Fair, Gray, Tenn.
Arkansas State Fair, Little Rock
Dixie National, Jackson, Miss.
Florida State Fair, Tampa
Kentucky State Fair, Louisville
Louisiana State Fair, Shreveport
Mississippi State Fair, Jackson
North Carolina State Fair, Raleigh
South Carolina State Fair, Columbia
Tennessee State Fair, Nashville
Tennessee State Hereford Show
Southwest
Arizona National Livestock Show, Phoenix
California State Fair, Sacramento
Hereford Heritage, Abilene, Texas
Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Texas
New Mexico State Fair, Albuquerque
Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa, Calif.
State Fair of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City
State Fair of Texas, Dallas
Tulsa State Fair, Tulsa
Utah State Fair, Salt Lake City
West Texas Fair, Abilene
Northwest
Kansas State Fair, Hutchinson
Nebraska State Fair, Lincoln
Northern Int’l Livestock Expo (NILE), Billings, Mont.
Oregon State Fair, Salem
Red River Valley Fair, Fargo, N.D.
South Dakota State Fair, Huron
Washington State Fair, Puyallup
Western Idaho Fair, Boise
Wyoming State Fair, Douglas
Northeast
Eastern States Expo, W. Springfield, Mass.
Illinois State Fair, Springfield
Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis
Iowa State Fair, Des Moines
Maryland State Fair, Timonium
Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul
Missouri State Fair, Sedalia
New Jersey State Fair, Augusta
New York State Fair, Syracuse
Ohio State Fair, Columbus
Ozark Empire Fair, Springfield, Mo.
State Fair of West Virginia, Lewisburg
Upper Peninsula State Fair, Detroit, Mich.
Wisconsin State Fair, W. Allis
World Beef Expo, W. Allis, Wis.
