—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 8,1977 18 Pregnancies checked electronically By DIETER KRIEG PARADISE - Imagine checking 100 sows for pregnancy in 20 to 30 minutes. It’s possible and nearly 99 per cent accurate with an electronic device which works on a sound wave principle. Although such a sophisticated instrument was considered to be out of the realm of most swine breeders until just a few months ago, the hand carried pregnancy probe has gone the way of the digital wrist watch and electronic pocket calculator. In other words, they’ve come down in price, and are thus an item of economic consideration on many farms. One hog operation in this area which uses the device is Jet Age Swine Breeders, near here, owned by John Hess. Abe Fisher, president of the Lancaster County Hog Producers, is manager at the farm. During a recent visit with Lancaster Far ming’s editor, Fisher revealed that the lower cost pregnancy testers retail for around $5OO to $6OO now. Just a year ago they approached $lOOO. The model used at Jet Age Swine Breeders is a little more sophisticated than most and cost $l6OO a year ago. A similar model can be purchased today for around $1265. How does such an elec tronic pregnancy tester work? Fisher, who is in volved in marketing the product, explains that it is based on reflections of ultrasonic sound waves. The more expensive models can be used to determine pregnancies in hogs and sheep, as well as measure backfat, muscling, and similar traits. All the operator has to do is hold a probe up to the lower, right rear abdomen, press a button, and take a reading on the scale. 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Out of more than 1000 head Fisher has tested to date at this farm, only 12 turned out to be false readings. Fisher says he wouldn’t want to to be without one of the devices, which he claims is generating interest from a number of hog breeders in the area, including the Amish. “It tightens your reign on the sow herd, keeps your costs down, saves feed, and you make better use of your available space,” Fisher commented. The earliest recommended day for using the tester is 30 days after breeding, ac cording to manufacturers and experienced users. It’s thought to be the earliest and most positive way of determining pregnancy, short of the obvious sign when a sow or gilt comes back in heat. But suppose you miss her signs of heat, then you lose a minimum of three weeks, reasons Fisher. The only other alternative the breeder has is to “eyeball check” the herd. Although some swine producers claim to be able to diagnose pregnancies in this fashion two months after breeding, it may well take three months or even longer. That too, accounts for a lot of wasted time, feed, space and money, Fisher declares. The Lancaster County hog producer believes the electronic device is now within the range of the medium size operator. He recommends it for con sideration to anyone who has 100 or more sows in his herd. Jet Age Swine Breeders has a herd of 500. Some claims have been made that the unit can be justified with as few as 50 sows. The device is battery operated and may be charged on regular house current. Very portable and 4* N * > ’ |;?s4;. ! k> ~ jy/i.. 5w j * \'i~ •> " 1 LANDIS BROS., INC. Ph- 717-393-3906 1305 Manheim Pike Lancaster. PA 17601 compact, newer models are an shee P ai “ e accurate even equipped with a buzzer m that sf** l6B after the 35tli to tell you if she’s bred or day. Demonstrating the not. The more expensive gadget’s use, Fisher lec models which may also be hired: “You place the probe Abe Fisher can pregnancy check a sow in about IO to 15 seconds. Save Energy and get HOT WATER... with the revolutionary... 350 gal. Esco 425 gal. Esco 625 gal. Esco 3-1000 gal Escos 650 gal. Esco 600 gal. Jamesway QUEEN ROAD REFRIGERATION Box 67, Intercourse, Pa. 17534 After 5 P.M. JOHN D. WEAVER 656-9982 GID DIENNER 768-8521 SAM STOLTZFUS 768-3594 OR Answering Service 354-4374 24 Hour Service We Stock Hess’s Farm Supplies, Check Our Prices on Animal Medications USED TANKS 500 gal. Mueller 300 gal. Zero 300 gal. Mojonnier 400 gal. Mojonnier 500 gal. Girton right in front of the flank, three inches above the teat line.” There’s no penetration or pam involved. Sows don’t even appear irritated by it. According to Fisher, the pregnancy probe is of more use to a man who has his sows and gilts bred in a pen, rather than the manager who prefers the stall method. He feels it’s “very necessary” in an operation such as his where 150 sows 4-—a. 5? FRE-HEATER SYSTEM WORKS ON MUELLER NEW MODEL “MW” The “MW” is one of the Lowest pouring Height Bulk tanks. Check with us about all the added new features of the “MW” bulk tank. are pen-bred per any given cycle. “Gilts are a different story, too,” Fisher con tinued. They come into heat any time during the 21-day period the boars are in with them. Sows, on the other hand, generally come into heat a couple of days after breeding, giving the owner a narrower time period during which to check them for pregnancy. w 'W 300 Gal. Girton 1-5 Tube Thermo King w-5 H.P. Unit 400 Gal. Steinhurst 800 gal. Dari-Kool Phone 717-768-7111
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