Association adopts Codon 171 sale warranty

The Board of Director's of the American Southdown Breeders' Association took another positive step forward with the passage of a sale warranty concerning the codon 171 genotype.

The following sale warranty will be effective November 1,2007.  This warranty will apply to all breeding sheep sold at a ASBA sanctioned sale.

"Registered Southdowns of either genotype, QR or RR will be allowed to sell.  Each consignor must declare and guarantee the genetic makeup of each of their entries with respect to scrapie susceptibility(codon 171).  Any registered Southdown may be sold as long as this information is provided at the time paper check-in prior to the start of the show for sale.  DNA test results are not required and consignors may declare and guarantee the genotypes of their entries based solely on pedigree.  Genotype information (QR or RR) will be printed on the sale order, which is prepared following the show for sale order.

Any buyer who wishes to have the benefit of this guarantee must have the animal DNA tested, at the buyer's expense, to confirm whether or not the sheep is as declared by the seller with respect to scrapie susceptibility.  Such testing must be performed within 60 days of the date of the sale.

If a sheep is determined by the buyer's DNA testing to be of a lesser genotype than that declared by the consignor at the sale, the seller shall have the option of having the animal retested at seller's expense.  The seller must arrange for such testing within two weeks of receipt of buyer's test results or a mutually agreeable timetable.  In the event there is a conflict between the two tests, a third test will immediately be run with the cost of such third test to be equally shared by the buyer and seller.

If the animal is determined to be a lesser genotype then declared by the consignor or if the seller fails to provide for a retest, the sheep shall be returned to the seller with the cost associated with the transportation being equally shared by the buyer and seller.

The seller shall refund the full purchase price of the animal promptly, with all fees and percentages levied against the animal retained by the sale.

This guarantee shall constitute a contract between the buyer and the seller only.  No other parties, including but not limited to the American Southdown Breeders' Association, Sale Management and sponsoring organizations, shall assume any liability, legal or otherwise, express or implied.  Sellers failing to comply with the spirit of these provision will be subject to being barred from future ASBA sanctioned sales."

Please contact the ASBA office if you have questions concerning this new policy.