December 22, 2017
George Kempfer President American Brahman Breeders Association 3003 South Loop West, Ste. 500 Houston, TX 77054 Re: Color Classification Rule Dear George and fellow members of the ABBA Executive Board We hope this letter finds you and your family enjoying the holiday cheer. Over the last few months, we, as well as many in the beef industry, have continually noticed the escalating turmoil regarding the ABBA color classification rule. As president, you asked members for a solution. Attached you will find a proposal drafted with input from over 30 individuals in the breed, who have collaborated for over a month to develop what we believe is a sensible solution and one that can solve the current issues and lead the ABBA show ring forward with consistency and clear rules. Several ABBA members who show both red and gray cattle have endorsed this proposal. It reflects hundreds of hours of collaboration involving review, revision, and input from members to come up with a proposal that everyone can support. We submit this proposal to you and the executive board for review. We also ask that you circulate it around to any members as you see fit so that the proposal can be thoroughly reviewed before the Fort Worth meeting. The undersigned breeders are committed to the future of the Brahman breed, and we are proud to work to be part of the solution, and not part of a problem. We wish you and your family all the best this holiday and in 2018. Sincerely, Kim and James Becker Ricky Hammonds Dinah Weil Judd Cullers Tammie Watts Kelvin Moreno Josefina Lecuna Alfredo Muskus Jason Smith Rachel and Brandon Cutrer Stuart Watkins
Enc.
Note: All items in color are changes and proposed new text, all other text is the current rule as it is today. Color Classification Rule effective 2018: At the time of registration, the breeder shall select the animal’s color based upon the predominant physical coloring of the animal’s hair. For non show animals, this is the extent of classification. For animals exhibited in ABBA approved shows, the following rules will apply: 1. The ABBA color chart will serve as the official breed resource for identifying the proper hair coat of registered Brahman cattle (see attached charts). 2. Animals will be color classified by the ABBA Color Committee in order to compete at the International, National, Kick-Off Classic and All American shows. The Show Committee also has the right to color classify at any ABBA Approved Show unannounced. 3. The ABBA Color Committee shall consist of 3 primary members and 2 alternates, all with experience in the beef industry and with at least 2 of the members being ABBA directors from a non-show membership. The committee will be appointed by the ABBA President and will serve for the full show year. 4. Animals will be color classified by their predominant hair color based on the ABBA color chart. 5. Only if an animal is unable to be classified based upon the ABBA color chart, the animal’s pedigree may be used to aid in color classification. 6. Once classified, the animal’s paper will be stamped with the color classification and remain in that classification throughout their show career. The decision of the color committee is final. 7. If any animal is reclassified by the color committee, the ABBA must provide corrected papers to the current owner of that animal within 30 days of the reclassification at the owner’s expense. 8. Animals shown in group classes must show in the group class of the registered color of their sire for the Get-of-Sire and the registered color of their dam for the Produce-of-Dam (ET & Natural). Both the exhibitor and owner of an animal that is shown in the wrong color division after being color classified will be ineligible to show any animals for 13 months following the infraction. The animal in violation will be disqualified for its entire show career and will forfeit all Register of Renown points. 9. Any ABBA member or exhibitor has the right to protest the color classification of any animal at any ABBA Approved Show to the Show Committee in writing with in 30 days. Any animals already stamped with a color classification will not be reclassified. Proposed by: Kim and James Becker, Becker Cattle Services Ricky Hammonds, Hammonds Brahman Ranch Dinah Weil, HK Cattle Judd Cullers, Heritage Cattle Company Tammie Watts and Kelvin Moreno, Moreno Ranches Josefina Lecuna and Alfredo Muskus, Santa Elena Ranch Jason Smith, Smith Brahmans Rachel and Brandon Cutrer, V8 Ranch Stuart Watkins, Watkins Cattle Company
- P R O P O SE D BRAHMAN SHOW RING COLOR CHART RED FEMALES
RED BULLS
- P R O P O SE D BRAHMAN SHOW RING COLOR CHART GREY FEMALES
GREY BULLS