Show Rules

A. REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES

Only American Goat Society, American Dairy Goat Association, and Canadian Goat Society, registered animals may be shown in official American Goat Society shows.
A registration certificate is required for all animals and MUST be presented to the show secretary prior to the start of judging.
No copy of a registration certificate or stamped duplicate application shall be accepted by the show secretary before judging with the exception that stamped duplicates shall be accepted for animals less than 6 months of age, except cases where state, county, district or regional shows require registration certificates.
Proof of ownership shall be the name on registration certificate. An animal may be shown with the original certificate accompanied by a bill of sale for the new owner; however, the new owner must sign as AGENT. Transfer of the animal should then be done in a timely manner.
Information obtained from a registry office via telephone, telegraph, etc. shall not be accepted in lieu of the registration certificate.
For sanctioned youth wether shows, the wether must be registered in the name of the youth or the youth must be a member of a family with a family membership and the wether is registered in the name of a family member. Youth shall be defined as anyone less than 21 years of age. The wether must not have been previously registered as a buck.

B. SHOW SANCTIONS AND FEES

The classes, sponsoring association's rules, and geographical restrictions published for any given show shall be an exact duplicate in their entirety of those sanctioned by AGS and shall state, “These rules shall govern.”
Two copies of the schedule of classes to be held (one for the AGS office and one for each judge) and all other rules from the governing and applying association, along with the official show application must be sent to the AGS office for approval. All classes to be held must be listed under classes. No Classes shall be changed after the AGS office has approved the sanctions. Doing so, will result in the invalidation of the show.
The base date for computing the age of the animal shall be the day the animal is to be judged. This date must be stated on the show application and in the rules.
A sanction rate sheet stating the appropriate fees for sanctions and the application may be obtained from the AGS office or the AGS website at: www.americangoatsociety.com.

C. RULES GOVERNING SHOW OFFICIALS AND JUDGES

The designation “Official AGS Show” shall be posted conspicuously at the ring.
It is the responsibility of the show secretary to have a copy of these rules available at all times in case any question arises during the course of the show.
The show chairman and show secretary are responsible for enforcing AGS rules and certifying that the standards set forth in these rules have been met. In turn, the sponsoring organization is responsible for the actions of the entire show committee.
All shows sanctioned by AGS must be judged by an official or "one day" licensed AGS judge.
No judge shall begin to judge a given sanction (jr. doe, sr. doe, buck, and wether) in a show until the paperwork has been completed for the same sanction for an earlier show. No judge shall observe the completion of paperwork and measurement of animals from an earlier show. No judge shall observe the judging of animals that he or she will be expected to judge later in the day or, in the case of multiple day shows, during the same show venue. This should not be construed to prohibit multiple ring shows on a given day. However, this does prohibit the simultaneous judging of classes within a sanction. With the exception of a consulting judge, as in the case of the National Show, only one judge is allowed in the ring at any given time during a show. (BOD 2007)
When a show is dually sanctioned by AGS and either ADGA or CGS, the AGS
sanction will take precedence. The AGS Report of Awards (ROA) will be the basis
for awarding of any AGS legs for the show. AGS will not accept a `show win form'
from a dual sanctioned show. Only one leg per show may be awarded to an animal
and that will be based on the AGS sanction. (BOD 2007)
No person shall judge any animal in which he has a financial interest. Financial interest shall be defined as:
They have partial or entire ownership of an animal or have been the owner of record of the animal within 6 months of the show.
It is partially or entirely owned by any immediate family member, including siblings, spouse, children, parents, grandchildren or grandparents.
The animal is owned partially or entirely by the judge’s employer or employee.

Prior to the date of judging, a Report of Awards form shall be sent by the AGS office to the show secretary.
This Report of Awards should be recorded on and completed in its entirety, except for signatures, by the show secretary. The information of the breed judged should be completed before judging of the next breed begins.
The owner of the animal is responsible to certify that all information pertaining to his animal and to the win is correct on the Report of Awards to the best of his knowledge. The signature of the owner/agent verifies that all information pertaining to the animal has been copied correctly from the registration certificate.
The show secretary and show chairman are responsible to certify that every detail on the report is correct and filled out completely to the best of their knowledge.
The judge shall certify that all tattoos on the winning animals are recorded on the report exactly as they are on the animals and that all of the Best of Breed were present in the Best of Show class. All tattoo spaces shall be filled. If there is no tattoo, write "none".
No animal shall receive credit for a leg toward a Master Champion or Wether Champion unless it has a legible ID before it enters the show ring. The ID must match the one(s) recorded on the registration certificate EXACTLY. An animal that has been re-tattooed in any way must have a revised certificate stating "re-tattooed". Lack of tattoo, illegibility, or certificate not matching shall prevent the animal from receiving the AGS champion leg, it will however, receive the AGS Breed Champion Certificate.
Upon conclusion of show, the show report form is to be completely and accurately filled out and signed by the judge and show officials. The judge receives one copy, show committee retains one copy, and the original is sent to the AGS office by the judge within ten days of the show.
All information, including signatures by all parties, shall be fully and correctly recorded on the show report form when it is first received by the AGS office. Such reports shall not be added to nor changed by anyone after completion of the show, except by review and action of the AGS Show Rules committee. Wins are not official until recorded by the office. The Committee's findings are final and their decision will be submitted in writing to the appropriate show Chairperson and the AGS office for recording within 30 days of their decision.

D. MEASURING OF MINIATURE BREEDS

Animals, upon entering the ring, are to walk under an official measuring device. Any animal not obviously within the appropriate height standard must be taken to a solid, level surface and measured according to rules 2, 3 &4 below. Upon agreement between the judge and show committee, the judge may decline to measure every animal less than 9 months of age, but rather to measure animals less than 9 months of age as necessary.
A standardized measuring device approved by the AGS judges committee will be used.
Animal measured will be in show stance with head up and all four legs set squarely underneath. Handler's hand on collar only.
Animal will be measured at the highest point of the withers, perpendicular to the front leg, no further back than point of elbow.
All champions and reserves will be measured according to above rules and height entered on Awards Report.

E. PRE-SHOW MILK OUTS

The decision whether or not to require pre-show milk out is the responsibility of the show committee and must be published in the show rules.
The show committee must set the rules and be responsible for enforcing those rules if there is to be pre-show milk out.
When there is no pre-show milk out, animals with over-distended udders will probably be penalized heavily by the judge.

F. ARRANGEMENT OF CLASSES AND MAKING OF AWARDS

AGS official shows may sanction classes for the following breeds and divisions:

French Alpine
La Mancha
Nigerian Dwarf
Nubian
Oberhasli
Pygmy
Saanen
Sable
Toggenburg

No more than four individual breeds may be applied for, if the class "All Other Purebreds" is applied for.
All classes sanctioned must be held if any of the breed are present.
No classes shall be changed after the office has approved the sanctions.
No breeds may be combined after the show is sanctioned.
Purebred, British, and American animals shall be shown in the same classes.
Since AGS does not record Grades, Experimentals, or Natives, no classes are sanctioned for them. These rules shall not be construed to prohibit classes for such animals if the sponsoring organization wishes to include them.
AGS recommends the following age classes in the Junior and Senior divisions with show date or calendar year as base date:

DOES

Junior Division (Does under 24 months that have never freshened.) May be sanctioned separately from Senior Does

Under 3 months
3 months and under 6 months
6 months and under 9 months
9 months and under 12 months
12 months and under 18 months
18 months and under 24 months

Senior Division (Does that have freshened at least once) May be sanctioned separately from juniors.

under 2 years of age
2 years to under 3 years
3 years to under 4 years
4 years to under 5 years
5 years of age and older

BUCKS

Under 3 months
3 months to under 6 months
6 months to under 9 months
9 months to under 12 months
Under 2 yrs of age
2 years to under 3 years
3 years to under 4 years
4 years to under 5 years
5 years of age and over

WETHERS

Under 12 months
12 months and over

An animal may compete only once in the age class of an individual show. An individual show is one which is covered by one sanction.
Entries may not be added to or withdrawn from classes after the class is in the ring and judging has begun without the permission of the officials in charge.
AGS awards rosettes and certificates regardless of registry to the champion of each breed, but the AGS office will not process a win by any animal not registered with AGS. Wins will be recorded if the animal is registered with AGS within 30 days of the win, and proof of that win has been submitted to the office in the form of an AGS affidavit signed by both the show judge and show secretary.
In classes where there is no competition, placement shall be made by the judge according to the merit of the animal. A judge may withhold placement in any class in which no animal meets the requirements.
CHAMPION CHALLENGE class is optional. There may be one class per breed. If the class is held, the following rules must apply.

The owner has the option to show his Master or Permanent champion in either the regular age class or the Champion Challenge class.
Proof of Master Champion shall be the prefix MCH or ARMCH as affixed by AGS or equivalent granted by another registry on the animal's registration certificate. An exhibitor may use their win notification card from the AGS office as proof of MCH status in order to show in Champion Challenge classes. The card must be complete with the animal’s name and registration number, dated and stamped by the office, and be clearly marked “This is official leg #3 (your animal now qualifies for MCH status). (BOD 2004)
The breed champion of the same show must compete in these classes, and the winner of this class shall be called BEST OF BREED. If the breed champion of the day does not win this class, it shall not compete in the BEST BUCK/BEST DOE IN SHOW class. The winner of the Champion Challenge class shall do so.
Master or Permanent Champions shown in these classes are not to be barred from group or udder classes.
Any show offering premium money must also do so for the Champion Challenge Class, and the amount must at least equal the maximum scale offered in any class of that breed. Where no premium is offered, the award must be at least equal to the one given to the breed champion of the day.
All animals in the Champion Challenge Class must be placed by the judge.

G. CLASSES AND CHAMPIONSHIPS

JUNIOR DOE

Any doe under 24 months of age that has never freshened shall compete in the Junior Doe Show or Junior Division.
The JUNIOR CHAMPION shall be selected from the first place blue ribbon winners of the individual classes held in this division. In a separately sanctioned Junior Doe Show this shall be the Grand Champion.
The RESERVE JUNIOR CHAMPION may be selected after the Junior Champion has been selected and shall be selected from those remaining in the Junior Champion Class, plus the animal that stood second to the Junior Champion in its individual class. In a Junior Doe show, this shall be the Reserve Grand Champion.
JUNIOR CHALLENGE CLASS:
This class shall be added at the end of the classes for the junior doe show after the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion classes.
Proof for entry in this class shall be the Junior Champion Certificate or show win card from the AGS office.
The Junior Champion of the current show must participate whether she won a leg or not. (Note: otherwise, it would not be a Challenge.)
As the grand of her breed in the regular division with fewer than ten of the breed in two age classes, and then goes on to win the Junior Challenge with sufficient numbers to complete the required ten of the breed, the leg will be awarded.
There is to be no more than one leg awarded in the junior show.
Exhibitors still have the option of showing junior does with legs in regular classes.
This class is offered to give opportunity for exhibitors to display good sportsmanship by showing juniors with official legs in the junior show without taking legs away from other deserving juniors. It also allows exhibitors to continue showing their juniors and these wins can be used for advertising purposes, etc.
A challenge rosette will be available from AGS at the time of sanction applications for a fee of $5.

SENIOR DOE

Any doe that has ever freshened or is being milked regularly shall compete in the Senior Doe show or Senior Doe division. This includes dry senior does and precocious milkers.
Any doe 24 months of age or older that has never freshened shall not be shown.
The SENIOR CHAMPION shall be selected from the first place blue ribbon winners of the individual classes held in this division. In a separately sanctioned Senior Show this shall be the Grand Champion.
The RESERVE SENIOR CHAMPION may be selected after the Senior Champion has been selected and shall be selected from those remaining in the Senior Champion Class plus the animal that stood second to the Senior Champion in its individual class. In a Senior Doe show, this shall be the Reserve Grand Champion.

BUCKS

Bucks use the same age classes as does.
Junior bucks (under 12 months of age) are NOT sanctioned separately from senior bucks at AGS shows. Bucks over 12 months of age shall compete as Senior Bucks, in the event that a JR Buck is named Grand Champion Buck, he will receive the leg, however, this is a restricted leg. Only one restricted leg is allowed towards a master championship.

WETHERS

Wethers must be exhibited by a youth.
Wether classes shall be grouped under one Sanction. There are no Junior or Senior divisions for wethers.

SELECTING GRAND AND RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION DOE OR BUCK (when junior and senior does are not sanctioned separately.)

The Junior Champion and Senior Champion Doe/Buck shall compete for Grand Champion.
The Reserve Grand Champion shall be selected from a class made up of the remaining Junior or Senior Champion competitors that were not made Grand Champion and the animal that stood second to the Grand Champion; or
If a Reserve Junior and Reserve Senior Champion are not selected, the Reserve Grand Champion shall be selected from a class made up of the remaining Junior or Senior animals not selected as Grand Champion, the animal that stood second to the Grand champion in its individual class, and the remaining first place ribbon winners in the division that produced the Grand Champion.

H. REQUIREMENTS FOR MASTER CHAMPION DOES AND BUCKS AND WETHER CHAMPIONS

No animal shall receive credit for a leg toward Master Champion (MCH) or Wether Champion (WCH) status unless it has legible tattoos and/or microchip before it enters the show ring. Tattoos and/or microchip must match the one(s) recorded on the registration certificate exactly. Lack of tattoo, illegibility, unreadable/missing microchip or the certificate not matching shall NOT prevent the animal from receiving the AGS Breed Champion certificate.
Any disqualified animal must not be recorded in the total number shown on the show report form.
Bucks, Does and Wethers must obtain three wins (legs) under at least two different judges. Only one leg may be won by any animal at a show under one sanction.
ADGA/CGS legs. AGS animals shown in an ADGA or CGS show only receive AGS legs for a win in that show if:
1. The owner files the appropriate form signed by the show secretary, Judge and owner within 30 days of the show.
2. A $5 filing fee is enclosed with the form

An animal must receive at least 1 official leg at an AGS sanctioned show, however that leg may be a restricted leg.

A leg won by a non-AGS animal in an ADGA/CGS sanctioned show may be applied for if the animal is registered with AGS within 30 days of the show date.
AT LEAST one leg must be won in competition against your individually sanctioned breed. (Meaning that an animal that wins in an AOP class may be eligible for MCH status as long as they have at least one leg in an individual sanction as well.)

DOES TO BE OFFICIAL

A minimum of ten (10) animals of her breed owned and shown in at least two age classes by at least two exhibitors shall be required to earn a LEG.
At least two legs of a doe’s MCH must be made as:
1. the Grand Champion in the Senior Division at OPEN shows where.....
1. at least eight does of her breed IN MILK are competing in at least two age classes, or
2. as the Grand Champion in her regular division with fewer than eight does in milk in two age classes and then goes on to win the Champion Challenge Class which has a sufficient number of does in milk to complete the required total of eight does in milk, or
3. as the Grand Champion competing against two or more animals that have won their Best of Breed while complying with rule seven (7) in that same show. This class shall be called Best Doe in Show and must be comprised of each Breed Champion in that individual show. No absentees permitted; or
1. The Grand Champion in the senior division at a RESTRICTED show where.....
1. at least twenty (20) does of her breed IN MILK are competing in at least two age classes, or
2. as the Grand Champion competing against two or more animals that have won their Best of Breed complying with rule seven in that same show. This class shall be called Best Doe in Show and must be comprised of each Breed Champion in that individual show. NO absentees permitted, or
3. the Reserve Champion to a Grand Champion that was a Master or Permanent Champion as shown by official records prior to entering the show ring, with at least 20 does of her breed in milk competing in at least two age classes. (Clarification: IF an animal takes its third "win" in the first of two or more consecutive shows and is shown in the next show/shows and wins, the reserve will get the "leg" (restricted leg if there are less than 20 of her breed in milk) after it is evaluated and confirmed by the office. (BOD 1999)

BUCKS TO BE OFFICIAL

At least two legs of a bucks MCH must be made as:
1. the sire of registered offspring, at OPEN shows where a minimum of ten (10) bucks of his breed are shown, with AT LEAST THREE being one year of age or older, owned and shown by at least two (2) exhibitors shall be required to earn a LEG, or
2. a Grand Champion competing against two or more bucks that won their Best of Breed while complying with rule (a) in that same show. This class will be called Best Buck in Show and must be composed of the Grand Champion of each breed in that individual show. NO absentees permitted.

WETHERS TO BE OFFICIAL

A minimum of 10 animals of his breed owned and shown in at least two age classes by at least two exhibitors shall be required to earn a LEG.
At least two of the three legs of a Wether Champion (WCH) must be made at 1 year of age or older.

RESTRICTED CHAMPION LEGS

Only ONE leg toward a MCH may be won as.....
1. the Grand Champion in any restricted show not covered by rules under Doe show rules section (8b) above, or
2. the Grand Champion in a doe show with ten of the breed but fewer than eight in milk, or
3. the Reserve Champion to a Grand Champion that was a Master or Permanent Champion as shown by official records prior to entering the show ring, ) or
4. the Best in Show winner in a Junior Doe show when competing against two (2) or more Breed Champions that had ten (10) or more animals in their respective breed in that same show, or
5. a buck under one year of age that wins Grand Champion over other bucks meeting the requirements in rules 9.a and 9.b.
6. the Reserve Champion to a Grand Champion that for reason of incorrect tattoos or other disqualification will be awarded the leg. (BOD 1993)
7. Only one leg toward a WCH may be won as a wether under one year of age.

COMBINED DOE SHOWS

A combined doe show is a sanction that has junior does and senior does competing for 1 leg.
There must be at least 10 does shown for the show to be official. There must be at least 8 does in milk, out of the 10, for a full leg to be awarded IF the senior doe wins. If the senior doe wins and there is not at least 8 does in milk it is a restricted leg. If a junior doe wins, in a combined doe show, the leg is still restricted. Junior does can ONLY win restricted legs. And ONLY 1 restricted leg can count towards your MCH title.
Example: there are 7 junior does and 4 senior does shown. The senior doe wins grand and is awarded a restricted leg (because the minimum of 8 does in milk was not met)
Another example: If there were 8 does in milk and 10 junior does shown, the senior doe wins grand and is awarded a full leg. (All minimum requirements were met)
14. A doe or buck winning three Grand Champions while complying with the above conditions set forth in Division (H) shall become a Master Champion and be entitled to the MCH designation upon official notification by AGS office. If the animal also holds an Advanced Registry record in AGS, it shall be entitled to the ARMCH designation.

I. COMPLAINTS AND PENALTIES

All complaints pertaining to the ethics and competency of judges, complaints pertaining to the management of the show, or the interpretation of the show rules are to be referred to the Official Judges Committee, or Complaint/Arbitration Committee.

J. GROUP CLASSES

Group classes are sponsored by the show and are presented after all sanctioned classes are completed. Exhibitors are encouraged, but not required, to enter animals in sanctioned classes.

K. DEFINITIONS

ABORTED DOE: doe that gave birth to a fetus carried less than 141 days

ALL OTHER PUREBREDS: a set of classes made up of all the purebred goats whose breeds are not separately sanctioned at a given show. Up to four separate breeds allowed. Abbreviated A.O.P.

BASE DATE: date used for computing age of goat for placing in proper class.

BEST OF BREED (GRAND CHAMPION): winner of the class of all first place animals in that breed.

BEST OF SHOW: winner of the class of all Breed or Grand Champions.

BREEDER: owner of doe at the time she was serviced or bred.

BUCK SHOW: a show for the exhibition of bucks of all ages.

CHAMPIONSHIP LEG: one of three official championship wins, used as a basis for awarding a Master Championship (MCH) or Wether Champion (WCH).

DISQUALIFIED ANIMAL: animal with one or more characteristic listed under “Disqualifications" on the AGS Faulting Sheet and so designated by a licensed judge. A disqualified animal shall not receive any award, be counted in the official numbers, nor appear in any group classes.

DOE IN MILK: doe being milked regularly.

DRY MILKER: doe that has freshened at least once, but is not presently in milk. Usually shown with milkers of its age group.

EXHIBITOR: owner of the animal according to the registration certificate. Shall be counted only once per sanction on Report of Awards.

FRESHENED DOE: doe that has given birth to a kid or fetus after 141 days.

JUNIOR DOE SHOW: show limited to does under 24 months of age who have not yet freshened and are not in milk.

MASTER CHAMPION: (MCH) animal that has 3 champion wins (legs) under the rules in AGS sanctioned shows.

OPEN DOE SHOW: show for exhibition of does of all ages, divided into Junior and Senior divisions.

OPEN SHOW: show open to all exhibitors worldwide. No restrictions.

PRECOCIOUS MILKER: doe that is being milked regularly without giving birth. Doe must be shown in senior division.

PRE-SHOW MILKOUT: a supervised complete milking of all senior division does at a specific time and place prior to judging.

REPORT OF AWARDS: triplicate form noting pertinent information regarding show champions. This is the qualifying document for championship legs

RESTRICTED SHOW: show that has limitations as to who may exhibit. (see 'Restricted wins")

RESTRICTED LEG: a leg won as a jr. doe, jr. buck, dry sr. doe or wether under one year of age. Only one can be counted towards MCH or WCH.

SANCTION: registry-authorized permit for a competition (show).

SENIOR DOE SHOW: show limited to does that have ever freshened and precocious milkers.

SHOW CHAIRMAN: person who heads and is responsible for the actions of the show committee.

SHOW COMMITTEE: all members of the sponsoring group that have official duties pertaining to the show.

SHOW SECRETARY: person who is responsible for all the paper work and show reports for the show.

SHOW STANCE: position of animal in show ring that exhibits its best qualities and minimizes its worst traits. Generally, the head is held up by a collar under the chin, the front legs are positioned squarely under the animal so a straight line could be drawn from its withers through its knees to its pasterns, and the hind legs are set squarely so a straight line could be drawn from its pin-bones through its hocks to its pasterns.

SPECIALTY SHOW: show limited to the exhibition of one breed.

WETHER CHAMPION: (WCH) Wether that has 3 champion wins (legs) under the rules in the AGS sanction show.

YOUTH SHOW: show that restricts its exhibitors to 4-H, FFA, or other youth under 21 years of age.

SHOW SUMMARY

American Goat Society sanctions a show by:

offering well-trained judges,
furnishing championship rosettes and certificates,
keeping records of show wins in the office,
supplying Master Champion and Wether Champion certificates based on recorded wins.

A local club or individual sponsors a show by:

hiring a judge and furnishing any equipment the judge requires,
applying for the AGS sanction 30 to 90 days before the show,
furnishing a show ring and penning facilities,
setting classes for show entries,
formulating local show rules within the confines of AGS rules,
publicizing the show,
cleaning up facilities after the show.

Exhibitors accept responsibility for:

care, protection, feeding, and watering of animals at show and en route,
having animals properly groomed and trained,
bringing only healthy animals to the show,
having original and correct registration papers on hand for all show animals,
using their own proper equipment for care and showing,
helping with clean up at local show if officials so request
transporting animals to and from the show.