Why was the parah aduma found in 2002 disqualified?

Question

In 2002, various news sources reported that a red heifer was found and the Temple Institute in Israel declared it kosher. Many of these sources later reported that the parah aduma was disqualified later that year, but I cannot find any information on why it was disqualified. Does anybody know why the 2002 red heifer was disqualified?

It could be my computer screen, but that cow looks nothing like red. It looks like just a darker shade of brown, totally expected and common genetic variation. — A L, Aug 26 '13 at 05:39
@AL Well it was originally accepted, so I guess it was considered to be the right color. — Daniel, Aug 26 '13 at 13:17
I wonder on what basis they considered it to be the right color in the first place. — A L, Aug 26 '13 at 19:16
@AL I don't know. It looks pretty red to me. I don't know exactly what color the parah aduma is supposed to be, though. — Daniel, Aug 26 '13 at 19:19
http://www.thelakewoodscoop.com/news/2015/01/photos-is-a-local-businessmans-cow-a-parah-adumah.html — Gershon Gold, Jan 15 '15 at 16:36
@AL 'red cows' aren't actually red like you imagine it, it is more of a brown color with red strong red tints I believe — Moshe Goldberg, Jul 27 '15 at 21:46

score 13 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 23 '13 at 17:13

13

According to GlobalNext.org - page 5 the Para Aduma born in 2002 was disqualified as it grew 3 white hairs.

answered Aug 23 '13 at 17:13

Gershon Gold

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This link seems to have gone dead. Are you able to find another source? – Daniel Dec 08 '14 at 18:42
@Daniel: Sorry I do not have another source. The link was active when the answer was submitted. – Gershon Gold Dec 08 '14 at 18:51

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 26 '15 at 14:17

Since the link in Gershon Gold's answer no longer works and I have been unsuccessful at finding any other information online, I decided to email the Temple Institute in Jerusalem. This is a quote from the email I received back:

Previous candidates for parah adumah have been disqualified after having grown more than two non-red hairs. A parah adumah born a year ago in New Jersey was disqualified after it became pregnant and gave birth.

So apparently the 2002 parah adumah did indeed grow more than two non-red hairs.

Why was the parah aduma found in 2002 disqualified?

2 Answers2

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