Livestock Rules

Guidelines:

1. The livestock department committee shall be made up of the following: Fair president, 4-H leaders of sheep, superintendents of livestock and one teen representative.
2. Age requirements to show or sell any animal shall be a minimum of 9 years of age and a maximum of 19 years during the current calendar year, or upon high school graduation if over the age of 19 years for all youth shows.
3. Steers must be purchased and on feed at least 205 days before the sale date. Steers must be born after January 1 of the previous year. Lambs and hogs must be purchased and on feed at least 90 days before the sale date. The weigh in dates will be set as close to those dates as possible and is required to be eligible to show or sell all market livestock. The Marquette County Fair shall appoint a weigh in person(s) and he or she shall be the same person for all animals within the species. All animals are expected to be properly restrained for the weigh in.
4. Beef members may start with no more than two steers. Sheep and swine may start with a pen of three lambs or hogs. Only one animal of each species may be shown or sold. All animals will be tagged or tattooed at the weigh in time. NO stags, warts, or horns over one inch will be permitted.
5. All breeding stock, market animals, poultry, rabbits, and pet stock MUST be preregistered by August 3, 2007.
6. NO replacement will be made in case of death of the animal after the weigh in unless an alternative animal, is in the possession of the member and weighed in as of the weigh in dates, replacement by an alternate animal may be made up to the final weigh in at the fair.
7. All project animals shown in market classes will be made available to sell.
8. The purpose of the livestock project is to have a member become knowledgeable about feeding, breeding, raising, and handling livestock. The show and sale at the fair is the end results. Any animals whose feeding and training has been neglected cannot be shown.
9. The judge has control over all exhibitors while they are showing. Anyone not able to control his or her animal to the satisfaction of the judge will be asked to leave the showing for the safety and respect of the other exhibitors.
         A committee made up of at least three of the people listed in the first paragraph will visit the members farm sometime in the two weeks before the fair to observe the member handle and lead his or her animal unassisted. The committee will decide at the time if it is a show or not show. The committee decision is final at that time.
10. Minimum weight limits for market animals to be shown in market classes:
         HOGS 200 lbs
          LAMBS 90 lbs
          STEERS 875 lbs
    If 10 or more market animals are in a class, they will be split equally by weight. Under and over weight animals may be shown in showmanship classes by its owner.
11. In order to be sold at the sale all market animals must be shown in both the market class and showmanship classes by its owner.
12. Record books must be exhibited at the fair. They must be completed after the final weigh in and returned to Linda Bruce by Thursday, 10:00 a.m. before the market livestock show.
13. All animals need to be securely tied or penned and properly supervised. ALL cattle MUST have a safety rope and a halter.
14. During the fair feeding times for all livestock (open & youth) shall be 7:00-9:00 am and 5:00-7:00 pm daily.
15. Owners will be responsible for the care of livestock until the animals are released from the fair, except for rabbits, poultry, and pet stock.
16. Judging will be: Youth- Danish system, Open - Straight Scale. THE JUDGES DECISION IS FINAL.
17. After the shows and sale, a personal thank you to the bidders should be expressed. Written thank you notes should be written to the buyers of your animal, letting them know you appreciate their support. Award winners should also write a thank you to the award sponsors. Checks will be held until a "thank you" note is written.
18. A selling fee of 4 percent to cover beef commission and advertising forthe steers shall be held from the sellers check. One percent less for the swine and sheep.
19. ENTRY TIMES: All poultry, rabbits, and pet stock must be tested in place between 3:00-9:00 p.m. Wednesday. All other livestock may arrive either 3:00-9:00 p.m. Wednesday or before 10:00 a.m. Thursday. All animals must be fed and bedded before the 10:00 am fair starting time. ALL SWINE AND POULTRY MUST SHOW THEIR HEALTH PAPERS TO CLERK BEFORE BEING PENNED.
20. FAIR SCALE WEIGHT OF ANIMALS WILL PREVAIL: Scale weight of animals by a Marquette County Fair Official is FINAL. Any person disagreeing with weight of animals may be asked to take livestock home.
21. RELEASE TIMES: No livestock may be released until the closing time of the fair, 6:00 pm Sunday. All poultry, rabbits, and pet stock will begin release at 6:00 pm. You must have your claim slip with you at the time of release. Failure to follow the release time will result in premium loss.
22. Sale order shall start with all Grand Champions of each species as per year rotation. The remaining animals within the species shall sell reserve champion first followed in judged order with each award being drawn by lot.

The livestock committee will be the final authority on all matters of concern in regard to the youth shows.

Guidelines for the Marquette Co. Fair's Youth Small Animal Projects

1. The Marquette Co. 4-H and Youth small animal committee shall consist of any and all interested members and leaders of small animal clubs who carry organized projects.
2. The meetings of the small animal committee will be scheduled as deemed appropriate by the membership.
3. Marquette Co. youth small market animals shall be: Pen of 3 Market Chickens, Pen of 3 Market Rabbits, or 1 Market Turkey.
4. All market animals will be sold in the following order. Grand Champion animals of each species first, then the reserve animal of a species followed by the remainder in judged order. The judge will determine sale order.

Market Chickens
1. Market chickens shall be purchased through the small animal committee approximately 8-10 weeks before the starting date of the fair.
2. The small animal committee will approve the vendor from which the chicks will be purchased.
3. Pullets or cockerels are approved for this project.

Market Rabbits
1. All market rabbits must come from a doe owned and bred by the exhibitor.
2. All does must be tattooed and the number registered with the small animal committee before the doe is bred.
3. Youth market rabbits must consist of a pen of three rabbits, from the same litter, not over 69 days old and between 3 and 5 pounds, by fair time.

Market Turkeys
1. Market turkeys shall be purchased through the small animal committee approximately 15-20 weeks before the Marquette Co. Fair.
2. The small animal committee will approve the vendor from which the turkeys will be purchased.
3. Toms or hens are approved for this project.
4. All turkeys will be leg banded upon arrival at the fair grounds and will remain there until release time.

Small Animal Auction - Saturday, August 11, 2007
Following Junior Livestock sale in the Livestock Barn.

2007 Health Requirements for Livestock Exhibited in Michigan

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