Kansas State Fair officials may use a plan to allow DNA testing of livestock during the annual 10-day fair.

Fair board members approved the plan Wednesday that could start for the 2010 fair. The testing is designed to prevent cheating during livestock competitions.

Hair follicles taken from beef cattle, sheep and swine by their handlers months before the competition will be used to verify that the same livestock is competing for ribbons and money each September.

The Kansas Junior Livestock Show in Wichita has yet to vote on whether to use the same system.

Sharon Breiner, Kansas State University's youth livestock coordinator, says the current system of checking nose prints from animals often is not reliable.