Show Rules

Registrations and Certificates:

1. In order for animals to be accepted for participation in an MDGA show, the owner must present either an official registration certificate or a registrar-issued confirmation email. Late MDGA registration applications must be submitted to the registrar a
minimum of 8 days prior to a show.

2. To compete in an MDGA sanctioned “Experimental” show, a miniature dairy goat is not required to be registered with MDGA but may be registered with another official miniature dairy goat registry. If such an animal is awarded Grand Champion of its breed, the animal’s owner will have two weeks from the show date to register the goat with MDGA in order for the animal to receive the winning leg; otherwise, the leg will be awarded to the Reserve Champion as long as the Reserve Champion is registered with
MDGA.

3. All MDGA-recorded “Grade” animals are eligible to be shown in sanctioned “Experimental” shows and are also eligible to receive Champion or Reserve Champion wins. To be shown, all registered or recorded grade animals whose certificates were issued by a registry other than MDGA must meet the MDGA standards for registration/recordation. Should it win, an animal belonging to this category must be registered with MDGA within two weeks to receive its official Champion win.

4. For all entries in a sanctioned show, either a registration certificate or an email from the registrar showing that an application for registration has been submitted to the registry must be presented to the show secretary or appointed trustee at the time of check-in.

5. All animals must be tattooed or microchipped with assigned tattoo numbers prior to arrival at the show. (No tattoos or microchips should be applied at the show.) Owners of animals with microchips must have a microchip reader available at the show. Champion and Reserve Champion animals will not receive official awards if the tattoo or microchip cannot be read.

Tattoo(s) must match the recorded information exactly on the registration certificate to receive credit for an official “leg”. If the tattoo is correct but in the wrong location, MDGA will award the Championship but without the “official leg”. If the tattoo is incorrect for that animal, said animal will be disqualified.

6. Proof of Ownership shall be the name on the certificate of registration or application confirmation email. *Animals pending transfer of ownership being shown by the new owner or entered in the show by an exhibitor on behalf of the owner, must have proper documentation signed by the current OWNER of the animal appointing such persons as their “Agent.”

7. Animals with horns or scurs exceeding two inches are not acceptable for showing.

8. In an MDGA-sanctioned “American” or “Purebred” show, all entries MUST be registered as an “American” or a “Purebred” with MDGA prior to the show.

 

Show Fees & Schedule:

1. The online show sanction application may be found on the MDGA Website or may be obtained directly from the MDGA Show Chairperson. Sanction Application should be submitted at least 31 days prior to the planned show.

2. The sanction requirements for MDGA Shows to qualify for awarding championship legs are as follows:

•  In All shows, a Minimum of Eight (8) Animals, and Two (2) Exhibitors must participate.
• In an “Open” Doe Show or Combined Doe Show, at least Five (5) Does must be in milk. 
• In a Combined Buck Show, at least Three (3) Bucks must be Twelve (12) months or
  older.

3. With MDGA's live show program, your animals can earn permanent champion titles.

If a doe has multiple award titles, such as a Virtual Champion (VCH) and Finished Champion (FCH), the Live show title should show first on the animals updated registration certificate.
Example “FVCH.” Same applies to when milk award is added to a goat’s registration “*P”, the prefix adds an “M” like so: “FMCH,” “FVMCH,” “VMCH,” etc.

To earn a Finished Championship title (FCH), a goat must earn three FCH leg
awards under at least two different judges. One leg may be a restricted leg, the others must be unrestricted.

Senior Does:
(a) Senior Does awarded Grand Champion in her Senior Division/Breed shall be entitled to an unrestricted leg if there are a minimum of 8 does, which include at least 5 does in milk within the division/breed, shall be entitled to an unrestricted leg.

(b) Senior Does awarded Grand Champion in a Combined Show over at least 8 does which include at least 5 does in milk shall be entitled to an unrestricted leg.

(c) Senior Does awarded Best In Show when two or more divisions/breeds are exhibited in the Best in Show Lineup shall be awarded an unrestricted leg if one was not already earned when awarded Grand Champion. At least one division/breed must meet official requirements listed in (a) or (b).

Junior Does:
(a) Junior Does awarded Grand Champion in her Junior Division/Breed shall be entitled to a restricted leg if there are a minimum of 8 does exhibited within the
division/breed.

(b) Junior Does awarded Grand Champion in a Combined Show shall be entitled to a restricted leg if there are a minimum 8 does entered with a minimum of 5 senior does in milk within the division/breed.

(c) Junior Does awarded Best In Show when two or more divisions/breeds are exhibited in the Best In Show Lineup shall be awarded a restricted leg if one was not already earned when awarded Grand Champion. At least one division/breed must meet official requirements listed in (a) or (b).

Senior Bucks:
(a) Senior Bucks awarded Grand Champion in his Senior Division/Breed shall be entitled to an unrestricted leg if there are a minimum of 8 bucks exhibited within the division/breed.

(b) Senior Bucks awarded Grand Champion in a Combined Show shall be entitled to an unrestricted leg if there are a minimum 8 bucks entered with 3 bucks being 12 months or older.

(c) Senior Bucks awarded Best In Show when two or more divisions/breeds are exhibited in the Best in Show Lineup shall be awarded an unrestricted leg if one was not already earned when awarded Grand Champion. At least one division/breed must meet official requirements listed in (a) or (b).

Junior Bucks:
(a) Junior Bucks awarded Grand Champion in his Junior Division/Breed shall be entitled to a restricted leg if there are a minimum of 8 goats exhibited within the division/breed.

(b) Junior Bucks awarded Grand Champion in a Combined Show shall be entitled to an unrestricted leg if there are a minimum 8 bucks entered with 3 bucks being 12 months or older.

(c) Junior Bucks awarded Best In Show when two or more divisions/breeds are exhibited in the Best In Show Lineup shall be awarded a restricted leg if one was not already earned when awarded Grand Champion. At least one division/breed must meet official requirements listed in (a) or (b).

4. A schedule of classes, breeds, and any local regulations (all listed in their entirety) must be submitted during the online sanction application process. The person submitting the application must make sure that the statement, “MDGA Rules Shall Govern,” is listed in the show rules and/or accompanying show flyer. If materials cannot be attached to the online application, files should be emailed to the MDGA Show Chair.

5. Sanction Applications, accompanied by the required information about classes and instructions, need to be submitted at least 31 days prior to the show for the normal fee schedule to apply.

6. Signed contract(s) for Judges hired to judge MDGA shows should be submitted during the online sanction application process. A “Judges’ Rules and Responsibilities” packet will be sent to the judge before the show. If contract(s) cannot be attached to online application, files should be emailed to the MDGA Show Chair.

7. Dual Sanctions: MDGA will agree to Dual Sanctioning ONLY if MDGA rules govern the show, or if the other registry sanctioning has the same rules, registration standards, and restrictions as MDGA.

8. The Sponsoring “Show Committee” will determine the order in which classes will be shown.

9. Once the MDGA Show Chairperson has approved a sanction, classes CANNOT be changed.

10. Report of Awards (ROA) Forms must be submitted online and mailed to the MDGA Central Office within 10 days following conclusion of the show. The online ROA submission link will be emailed to the Show Chair the day of the show.

Sanction Fees are:
$15 - Each sanction (applied for at the same time)

Shipping
$20 – for applications submitted 31 days prior to the show
$40 – for applications submitted 30 days or less before a show

Grand Champion rosettes and Reserve Champion rosettes are included in these prices. Other rosettes available (with prices listed) include: Best of Breed - $5 - Best Udder in Show - $5, Best in Show - $5.

Upon receipt of the Show ROA, the MDGA Show Chairperson will send Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion certificates via email and Win Notifications to the owner of the animal winning the leg award – official and unofficial.

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Show Abbreviations, Divisions, and Classes:
1. Breed Abbreviations to be used in naming Divisions:
*Note: Nigerian Dwarf are always considered a separate show and cannot compete against minis even for “Best in Show.”
● MA – Mini Alpine
● ML – Mini Lamancha
● MG – Mini Guernsey
● MN – Mini Nubian
● MO – Mini Oberhasli
● MS – Mini Saanen
● MT – Mini Toggenburg
● AOM – All Other Miniatures (Division for breeds with too few numbers to meet sanction requirements individually)
● ND – Nigerian Dwarf

2. Sanctions:
The show could have four sanctions: Junior Does, Senior Does, Junior Bucks, and Senior Bucks. For smaller shows, Junior and Senior Does can be combined, as can Junior and Senior Bucks, resulting in a “Combined” show. A larger show may receive enough entries for separate sanctions for different breeds, thus creating show divisions. The entire show must consist of either “Separate” or “Combined” sanctions. However, if a show is offering both doe and buck classes, the bucks are considered a separate show and can be combined even if the doe classes are separate.

3. Classes:
Classes fall under one of the three categories, based on sex and age. Below is a list of suggested classes; after the last class in each category, the typical Champion, Reserve Champion, and other awards are listed.

Junior Doe Show:
(Does under two years of age that have never freshened)

Class 1: Junior doelings - born between April and show date
Class 2: Intermediate doelings - born in March
Class 3: Senior doelings – born in January or February
Class 4: Junior dry yearlings - under one year through December of previous year
Class 5: Dry yearlings - are twelve to 24 months old and have never freshened
Awards: Junior Champion and Reserve Junior Champion
Class 6: Junior Champion Challenge - Any junior doe that has earned a dry leg award can challenge for Best of Breed.
Awards: Best Junior Doe is Show - All Best of Breed champions must be represented.

Senior Doe Show:
(Does that have freshened or have been in milk)
Class 7: Senior does less than two years old
Class 8: Senior does: between two and three years old
Class 9: Senior does between three and four years old
Class 10: Senior does between four and five years old
Class 11: Senior does five years old and older
Awards: Senior Grand Champion and Reserve Champion
Class 12: Champion Challenge - Any Finished Grand Champion senior competes
against the champion of the day for Best of Breed.
Awards: Best Doe in Show - All Best of Breed champions must be represented.
Best Udder in Show - All Best Udder champions of breeds must be represented.

Junior Buck Show:
(Bucks less than one year old)
Class 13: Junior bucklings - born between April and show date
Class 14: Intermediate bucklings - born in March
Class 15: Senior bucklings - less than twelve months old
Awards: Junior Champion and Reserve Junior Champion
Class 16: Champion Challenge - Any junior buck that has earned a leg award can challenge the champion of the day for Best of Breed.
Award: Best Junior Buck of Show - All Best of Breed champions must be represented.

Senior Buck Show:
(Bucks more than one year old)
Class 17: Bucks between one and two years old
Class 18: Bucks between two and three years old
Class 19: Bucks between three and four years old
Class 20: Bucks between four and five years old
Class 21: Bucks five years old and older
Awards: Senior Champion and Reserve Senior Champion
Class 22: Champion Challenge – Any Grand Champion senior buck competes against
the champion of the day for Best of Breed.
Award: Best Senior Buck of Show - All Best of Breed champions must be represented.

 

*The above class list is a suggested guide only, and classes may be added or
deleted to accommodate entry numbers. Class breakdown that is relative to the
show date is left to the discretion of the show committee.