TENNESSEE GOAT PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION

CODE OF ETHICS

As producers of a commodity and class of livestock into which many first time producers/owners are entering, we bear the great burden of keeping our industry honest and ethical.

1. We are bound by ethical business practices to provide true and correct information when we place animals on the market.

a)       When selling registered stock it is the breeder’s responsibility to provide accurate pedigree information.

b)       It shall be construed to be unethical to sell as registered stock any animal that does not meet minimum breed standards for the registry with which it is registered.

c)       When selling to uneducated producers, it is our moral duty to disclose any cull defects that might be present in any animal offered for sale.

d)       Dumping of unfit, unsound, or infertile animals on unsuspecting, or un-informed buyers shall be construed as a breach of ethics.

e)       It is against all ethical and moral principles for any producer to offer for sale at an auction barn or otherwise introduce or attempt to introduce into the Nation's food supply any animal that is diseased or infirm in such a manner that the carcass or any part thereof might be deemed unfit for human consumption.

 2. TGPA members and officers shall at all times conduct themselves in a business-like and courteous manner and provide any information requested by a buyer when available on animals being sold.

a)       This includes but is not limited to true production unit (herd) information, such as vaccination records, approximate age and style of production i.e., pen, pasture, feedlot, etc…

b)       Potential buyers should be informed of health problems present within the producer’s herd.

 c)       Information as to the approximate percentage of kids raised to weaning age by the herd should be provided and should be accurate.

 3. When a price is agreed upon, the buyer shall submit the funds in the manner requested by the seller.

 a) Any personal check for purchase of livestock accepted by the seller shall be drawn on an account of the buyer containing sufficient funds to cover the purchase price. Failure of the check to clear the bank may result in legal recourse by the seller and possible TGPA sanctions against that purchaser.

4. When presenting animals in a show ring venue, members shall be courteous to all ring officials as well as the judge.

a) In the event of a grievance, a written complaint shall be submitted following the show’s completion within the time specified by the show’s sanctioning body. (For example: for AMGA shows, all complaints must be submitted within 3 hours of the show’s completion; for USBGA shows, written complaint must be within 6 months of the show.)

b) Disorderly or unsportsmanlike conduct in a show will not be tolerated and may result in the offending party being asked to leave the ring.

c)  Further behavior of this type in a TGPA show will result in suspension of TGPA show ring privileges.

5.     It shall be considered unethical for any member or officer of the TGPA to openly criticize or otherwise discuss in a disparaging manner any stock owned by, presented for sale by, or presented for show by a member of the TGPA. Any ethical issue relating to the quality of a producer’s stock shall be brought to the attention of the Ethics Committee, who may discuss it with the Board of Directors in private, and should the need arise, discuss it privately with the owner, seller, or exhibitor.

6.     Any complaint of an ethical nature shall be submitted in writing to the Chairman of the Ethics Committee of the Tennessee Goat Producers Association. The TGPA Ethics Committee will review all complaints lodged against offending parties, make recommendations to the Board of Directors, and take whatever action the Board of Directors deems appropriate, up to and including removal of membership from the Association. All parties involved in a dispute will be provided the opportunity to present their side of all properly presented ethics issues prior to any action being taken by the Board.

7.      Be it also recognized that by application for membership or renewal of membership in The TGPA, each member or prospective member agrees to be bound by this Code of Ethics and to indemnify and hold harmless the TGPA board of directors for any action they may take resulting from a member’s breach of this CODE OF ETHICS.

This is a very simple Code of Ethics designed not to be overly burdensome or restrictive, but to represent what we as an association consider proper and correct business practices and strongly urge all members abide by them.

Note: This Code of Ethics was modeled after those adopted by the American Meat Goat Association, American Kiko Goat Association and other livestock associations.