SASKATOON – It was an eyeball test that caught the cheaters.
This spring, three exhibitors were disqualified from the steer and sheep shows in Louisville, Kentucky for injecting show animals with a banned drug.
The three exhibitors injected the sheep and cattle with clenbuterol, a drug used to enhance muscle development and reduce body fat in animals. The exhibitors didn’t know a test had been developed to detect the drug.
“There’s been a lot of detection at a good number of shows,” said Harold Workman, president and chief executive officer of the Kent State Fair board.
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The board is in charge of the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, but other livestock shows have also banned exhibitors after finding the drug in animal carcasses. “Lots of exhibitors are using it, apparently.”
While Workman may be happy with catching the cheaters, detection of the drug doesn’t help the image of 4-H clubs, junior livestock shows and Future Farmers of America as a wholesome family event.
“We have one or two in the organization who cheat to win and put a black eye on the entire organization,” said Workman. He said he’s hoping exhibitors now know they will be detected and publicly humiliated if they are discovered using banned drugs on their animals.
