Hello everyone,
I hope y’all are doing well in early March. It’s great that show season has finally arrived.
Most of you are aware of the ARBA Board’s determination on tattoo numbers for registration purposes. Following
is an announcement dated 2/15/13 from the ARBA website.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO REGISTRARS
The ARBA Board has reviewed and reinforced the ARBA Instructions to Registrars requiring that all ear numbers
must contain 0-9 and/or A-Z. All ear tattoos may only contain these alpha-numeric characters and no other
characters.
The above was decided upon due to a variety of symbols, characters, etc, that can now be tattooed in the ears with
the growing popularity of hand tattooers. These have become increasingly difficult to enter on the computer system.
This does not prohibit names from being used in the ears. Examples of acceptable tattoo numbers are: TOM, 123,
and TOM123. An example of a nonacceptable tattoo would be #1TOM!.
A separate tattoo number issue recently handled by the ARBA Board dealt with “inappropriate” type tattoos being
placed in the animals’ ears. Much discussion took place among the Board and various sides to the issue were
examined. A list of “banned” tattoos was deemed not feasible. It wasn’t felt that the show secretaries should have
another task thrown onto them by having to review every tattoo upon entry. And some felt judges should not have to
DQ or be the ones to make the determination. The show rule 26 revision adopted by the Board was a compromise
that we felt looked at all sides of the argument. Listed below is the former show rule 26 as well as the revision which
is in effect now.
PREVIOUS
SECTION 26. All animals must be permanently and legibly earmarked in the left ear.
REVISED/CURRENT
SECTION 26. All animals must be permanently and legibly earmarked in the left ear. The tattoo is to only contain
numerals 0-9 and/or letters A-Z. The tattoo is to contain no language of a profane or sexual nature.
Subsection A and B remain the same and were not revised. For violations, please refer to section 70 which reads,
VIOLATIONS
SECTION 70.
A violation of these official show rules and regulations shall be referred to the ARBA Board of Directors
for interpretation. If deemed necessary, disciplinary action may be taken.
The show rule section 26 revision does not mean the judge will DQ an animal for an “inappropriate” ear #. Nor will
the show secretary refuse an entry. However, should an exhibitor feel an animal’s tattoo number is offensive, he/she
has the option of sending a complaint to the ARBA Executive Director who may then forward to the Board for
consideration. Show rule 26 now also follows the registration tattoo issue of only allowing 0-9 and/or A- Z in tattoo
numbers. Show rule section 70 was not changed. I would like to state that the revision to show rule 26 was passed
unanimously by the ARBA Board.
I hope I have been able to explain and clarify any areas of these issues that may have been causing concerns or
questions. Never hesitate to contact me to discuss further.
Take care,
Terry Fender
ARBA District 8 Director