Official Kansas 4-H Meat Goat Showmanship Score Card
A. Appearance of Goat Perfect Score 20
1. Cleanliness.......................................................................................................................................................10
a. Hair, if present, should be clean and free of foreign matter.
b. Flanks, face, nose, ears, feet, and legs clean.
c. Hair should be dry on breeding does.
d. Slick shorn animals should not be wet.
2. Shearing/Trimming/Fitting..............................................................................................................................10
a. Market goats and commercial does are slick shorn.
b. Registered breeding does are trimmed or fitted for exhibition.
c. Ultimately, the final decision regarding shearing, trimming, or fitting is left to individual show management.
d. Feet should be trimmed so that goat walks and stands natural and correct.
B. Showing Perfect Score 55
1. Presentation and Changing Positions...............................................................................................................35
a. A goat should be well presented at all times, but showman should not engage in undue fussing or maneuvering. The goat should always be positioned between the showman and judge on a profile/side-view/head-to-tail presentation.
b. A goat should show evidence of training as indicated by responsiveness to handling.
c. Goat should be shown from the front, slightly off to one side when the judge is viewing it from the rear.
d. Exhibitor should step to the goat’s side, stand straight, and face the judge while holding the head up when the judge is inspecting the front end of the goat.
e. Exhibitors should always stand when showing a market goat, commercial doe, or registered breeding doe.
f. A goat should be led with one hand holding the neck chain or collar and the other hand held to the showman’s side. The “free” hand can be placed under the jaw to help control speed during movement.
g. Each exhibitor should maintain proper distance when on the move and when standing to allow other exhibitors enough space to show their animal. Exhibitors should be courteous to other exhibitors and their goats at all times.
h. When a goat is not visible to the judge in a particularly large class, it is permissible and encouraged to allow the goat to relax in position.
i. On a profile/side view/head to tail presentation, the goat should be allowed to stand naturally without bracing. The front feet must remain on the ground when the judge is handling or closely inspecting the goat. Some shows may or may not allow bracing, so the final decision is left to the individual show management.
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service