OCA News OCA BEST Program Takes Disciplinary Action Honesty Always the Best Policy; Never Know Who Might Get Hurt
The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors and the OCA BEST program recently issued final disciplinary action involving the following parties: one breeder, two traders (sellers)and one participating family in the 2017-18 OCA BEST program. This action is the result of a formal protest made through the BEST program’s protest rule, which initiated an investigation and DNA testing. The protest alleged that a steer nominated in the BEST program had falsified registration papers to obtain breed eligibility status in the Simmental steer division. This allegation was confirmed by DNA testing of the dam whose information was obtained in the protest of the animal in question. Throughout the investigation the names of the BEST exhibitor, traders and the alleged breeder were never used to avoid any perception of partiality. The OCA BEST committee reviewed all the information and developed recommended penalties for those involved in the protest. Through a unanimous vote the OCA BEST committee recommended the following disciplinary actions, which were supported and finalized by the OCA Board of Directors. This disciplinary action includes disqualifying the BEST participant from the Simmental steer division and forfeiting points accrued throughout the 2017-18 BEST sanctioned show series. The exhibitor remains in good standing with the BEST program and OCA and is eligible for end of year recognition as a BEST participant and no future barring was issued to the exhibitor. The traders (sellers) involved are required to provide proof of maternal DNA on file for any registered cattle raised by the traders that are to be nominated as a breed into OCA’s BEST and/or Best of the Buckeye program for a period of three years. Failure to provide proof of dam DNA on file will result in cattle showing as crossbred at 54 | Ohio Cattleman | Spring Issue 2018
any BEST sanctioned show until proof of DNA is provided. The breeder involved is banned from selling any registered cattle to participate in any BEST sanctioned show (for BEST or non-BEST participants) and the Best of the Buckeye program for a period of three years. Any registered progeny out of any registered dams owned by the breeder or others living in the same household will be ineligible to participate as listed above. Registered dams listing the breeder or others living in the same household listed as the breeder and/or owner sold between February 16, 2018 through the period of the ban expiring will be ineligible. The initial barring will expire at the end of the 2019-20 BEST program year. After the barring expires, the breeder must provide proof of maternal parent DNA on file for registered animals participating in a BEST sanctioned show (for BEST or non-BEST participants) or BOTB show at the time of nomination for a probationary period of two years. Failure to provide proof of dam DNA on file will result in cattle showing as crossbred at any BEST sanctioned show until proof of DNA is provided. The breeder was asked to provide a letter of apology to the exhibitor affected and both the state and national breed associations have been notified of the incident. The secondary probationary period will expire at the end of the 2021-22 BEST sanctioned show season. The OCA BEST committee and OCA Board of Directors take these actions very seriously and have handled them accordingly. OCA makes every effort to create an equal and fair program for every exhibitor while maintaining the BEST program and the Best of the Buckeye program at the highest levels of integrity to further their purposes as youth development programs for Ohio’s beef industry. The exhibitor shares her experience in the following letter:
Dear Fellow BEST Show Families: I’m writing this article to share my experience with my steer Harvey. I purchased him as advertised, a Simmi, Best of Buckeye eligible, and a full sib to last year’s winner. I, and my family, trusted the breeder and learned the hard way that Harvey’s ASA papers were falsified. Like many of you, we love the beef industry and showing. As a family, we enjoy our time in the barn working with our animals. We are honest and hardworking and it was never our intention to deceive anyone or to misrepresent Harvey. If the breeder had been honest I would have entered and shown him as a crossbred. I’m the victim in this situation and was totally blindsided that an Ohio breeder would be unethical. My reputation and ethics are being scrutinized, regardless that all of my previous activities were without blemish. My family, who only supported me and my goals, are now under fire, and people who know us as hardworking, respectful, and willing to help others, are questioning our integrity. Mr. Breeder, is falsifying records just to sell a steer or heifer, worth the risk to your reputation or to the showman who buys it? Please consider your actions and how your decisions affect others. My 2017-18 BEST show season has been tarnished by this situation, but I’m not going to let your lack of ethics stop me from following my passion for showing beef projects. I have learned a hard lesson, and hope when I decide to buy another breed steer or heifer, the breeder will be honest. I appreciate those who supported me and have shown empathy. There are still others who think we are dishonest. If you want to know the whole story, just ask. I’m using this experience to speak out and to raise awareness among buyers. Hannah G. Weymouth