The National Director for the North American Limousin Foundation recognizes the show ring as a means of displaying Limousin cattle, and as a method for breeders to promote their program. The NALF supports the showing of Limousin breeding cattle, but does not provide premium money for shows. Premium money must be raised by the state organization sponsoring the shows or entry fees from exhibits. In order to encourage the proper use of the show ring, the NALF Board list the following guidelines:
- Animals must be registered with the North America Limousin Foundation
- All cattle shown including calves at the side of the dam must be: 75% Limousin (NALF percentage, not actual) or greater as indicated on orange NALF registration certificates or purple-papered Lim-Flex cattle as indicated by NALF registration certifications. Percentage, fullbood, purebred and Lim-Flex cattle shall compete in the same Divisions and championships.
- If a show does not abide by the NALF MOE show rules exhibitors will not be awarded points.
- Animals must be properly tattooed and will be inspected at the show. Tattoos must be legible and match the registration certificates. If an animal's tattoo is not legible or cannot be read upon initial check-in, it will be ineligible to show and not be allowed to return with a new or corrected tattoo.
- To maintain a high degree of confidence in Limousin shows, NALF reserves the right to disqualify any animal that has been fitted in an unethical manner. Unethical fitting shall include the following:
a. Any use of paints, colored show foam, graphite, colored powders or any other substances. An animal maybe subject to a white towel test;
b. The addition of any hair or hair like substances, including false tall heads and false polls (False tail switches are allowed);
c. The cutting, tearing or gluing of the hide or underneath the hide or removal of tissue in an attempt to alter the shape of the animal or the injection of any gas, solid or liquid under the hide to alter the normal conformation;
d. Any products, solutions or liquids administered internally or externally to alter the conformation of the animal is prohibited. That includes the use of steroids, growth stimulants, and the act of artificially filling animals internally, which would include stomach pumping, drench tubes, or any other method.
6. Bulls older than one (1) year must show with a nose lead the Limousin show superintendent and the show management reserves the right to disqualify animals deemed unmanageable.
7. Protests against exhibitors or individual animals or fitting violations must be submitted in writing and signed by five (5) active members of the NALF and presented to the show superintendent within 12 hours of the show's completion.
8. NALF reserves the right to mouth animals for dental development
9. NALF reserves the right to collect hair samples for any animal
10. Division size shall be to the discretion of the show superintendent and may not contain more than 20 head. The given Divisions may be split or combined only within their given division.
11. Calves exhibited alongside dams in the cow/calf division are eligible to show as individuals
12. Animals shown must be solid red or black above the flanks, excluding birth marks.Other Requirements:
The following performance-data-submission requirements must be met by Dec. 1 to received Medal of Excellence points.
Birth Weight (bulls and heifers)
Weaning weight (bulls and heifers)
Yearling weight (bulls and heifers)
Yearling scrotal circumference
Pregnancy test (females older than 600 days at season's end)
Breeding Soundness Exam and semen test (bulls older than 400 days)
Note:
Failure to have performance data on file at NALF will result in disqualification from the MOE program, and no points will be awarded. It is the responsibility of the breeder/owner/exhibitor to submit that information without special requests from NALF.
To maintain a high degree of integrity and credibility in all Limousin shows, all owners and exhibitors are expected to adhere to all NALF rules and regulations regarding the exhibition of Limousin cattle and to adhere to rules and regulations of particular shows, fairs and exhibitions.