2025 Changes To The PDCA Showmanship Guidelines and Unified Scorecard
- Nov 1, 2025
- 2 min read
The Purebred Dairy Cattle Association (PDCA) Board of Directors unanimously approved changes to the PDCA Show Ring Code of Ethics, the PDCA Showmanship Guidelines and Dairy Cow Unified Scorecard during their board meetings last December 2024.
Each of the following publications can be found under the literature tab at www.purebreddairycattle.com. Notable revisions and updates to these documents include:
PDCA Show Ring Code of Ethics:
Topline hair length increased from 1” to 1.5” allowed
Teat setting, over bagging and misrepresentation of animal’s lactation were each addressed specifically
Show Ring Code of Ethics - Changes Highlighted
PDCA Showmanship Guidelines:
Refined language regarding how leadsperson is to hold halter strap
Specific direction for leadspersons as they enter the show ring, set up their animal once in the show ring and switch animals during competition
PDCA Showmanship Evaluation Card:
Slight discrimination for “sidesteps when leading calf” has been changed to moderate discrimination on the Showmanship Evaluation Scorecard as has “failure to stop and set up your animal appropriately at the judge’s request.”
Dairy Unified Scorecard:
Rear Feet and Legs category, allowed 20%, will now be Feet and Legs – 20%
Equal weight will now be given to rear udder and fore udder with equal point values of seven points each
Mature Cow in Milk Average Weights have been adjusted to align with current breed characteristics
Holstein, Jersey and Milking Shorthorn True Type images were updated
These changes are effective March 1, 2025. The updated 2025 editions of the Show Ring Code of Ethics, Showmanship Guidelines, Showmanship Evaluation Scorecard and Unified Scorecard are available on PDCA’s website. To see the context within which changes were made and specific language that was modified, click on the copies of each document named “Revisions Highlighted,” also found on PDCA’s website under the literature tab at Purebred Dairy Cattle Association - Literature.
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