C34—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 11,1980 NEWARK, Del. - The productivity of a swine herd depends on the productivity of its sows. And this depends on good management as well as good genetics. A sow’s potential isn’t met in most herds, says University of Delaware extension livestock specialist Richard Fowler. She is capable of farrowing 2.5 times a year and weaning 12 pigs from each litter. Tuis translates into 30 pigs per sow per year. In 1979 the average number of pigs weaned annually per sow in the U.S. was only 11.7. Deciding which gilts to keep for your breeding herd is an important job. Keep fast-growing, sound, lean gilts from larger litters. After farrowing, cull sows with poor dispositions, physical problems, poor mothering records, or with litters that are two pigs below the group weaning average. Records help identify the most productive females, says Fowler. Since some traits are now highly heritable, management has a big influence on produc tivity. For example, take litter size at birth. Only about 10 percent of the variation observed m this trait is due to genetics. Put another way, if one sow farrows 10 pigs and another eight, only .2 of a pig is due to the genetic dif ferences between the two sows. This apparently small influence on litter size may tempt you to underestimate its importance in selection, says the specialist. Litter weight at g| ALPINE Sft PLANT FOOD OFFERS A TOP QUALITY LIQUID PLANT FOOD AT ROCK BOTTOM PRICES. ★ Alpine minimizes expensive handling costs by utilizing farmer distributors. ★ Alpine eliminates expensive computer billing costs with cash accounts. ★ Alpine uses food grade ingredients for maximum avail ability and safety to plants. ★ Alpine in a neutral PH chlorine free plant food that wilt not rust equipment, freeze or settle out. ★ Alpine will guarantee the following prices for orders re ceived until Oct. 30,1980 for delivery and payment by: Nov. 30. $2.60 Jan. 31 $2.70 Mar. 31 $2.80 Dec. 31 $2.65 Feb. 28 $2.75 Apr. 30 $2.90 Pennsylvania Distributors HAROLD WOLF GARY REPLOGLE JAMES LANDIS Centre Hall Bedford East Greenville 814-364-1349 814-847-2851 215-679-2682 CLYDE BARTHOLOMEW RICHARD WILSON Orangeville Stewartstown 717-784-1779 717-993-6101 How to select productive sows and gilts weeks is an excellent way to measure sow productivity. This measurement recognizes the number of pigs bom and the milk producmg ability of the sow. This information is also useful in determining an index number. It’s the basis for the sow indexing programs offered by breed associations and some universities. One index that is used is: Index No. = 2 (No. bom + 2 x No. weaned + 2 x total litter we'ght *>* weeks/30). The wide variation in litter 'size among sows makes it difficult to evaluate genetic factors, since heritability of litter size is small and en vironmental factors are large. But sows on the same farm are in a similar en vironment and get similar care, so their differences do have some genetic basis. Good records and an in dexing system will help you identify these inherited differences. Conformation also plays an important role in selection. There is evidence three though not fully proven that the very meaty female does not make a good brood sow. Good brood sows usually have long muscling, rather than short, bunch muscles. These individuals exhibit freedom of movement with an easy-moving stride. They’re the kind of gilts that have some slope to their pastern and a front foot that is slightly ahead of the knee. Avoid keeping gilts with small, up-turned genitalia and poorly defined un derlines. Underlines should have six prominent, evenly spaced nipples on each side, three in front of the navel. Do not save gilts with inverted or scarred teats. The fastest growing, leanest gilts which are sound and from large litters should be saved for replacement females. The way a gilt is managed at birth and during puberty can affect her reproductive performance. Recent research shows that gilts raised m large litters are less productive than those reared in small ones. Equalize litters by fostering the male pigs from large litters. Evaluate gilts at weaning and again during the growing period. At 200 pounds place them on a 1 fete-wiv* ! Wjt Americas' chlorinated circulation cleaners In Americas’ quality chemical line you'll also are readily soluable, hard working and rinse find the best acid circulation cleaner & rinse, completely clean Americas' brush-washing teat & udder care products, chlorine tank cleaners are easy to use and rinse clean sanitizers and farm strength laundry m cold water, detergent Nu-Pulse Cochranville, PA 19330 215-932-4700 Only Authorized Distributor For PA, MD & NJ Tauthorized^ I KEYSTONE | I DEALERS | i I SO. UNCASTER CO. LAPPS HARDWARE & DAIRY SUPPLIES RD 4 Box 96 (Loop Rd ) Quarryville, PA 17566 717-786-3970 NO. UNCASTER CO. T.S. BURKHOLDER FARM REFRIGERATION RD2, Box 618 Ephrata, PA 17522 717-859 1145 M nc^°». E . t ! Y C v o ' WOODSTCWN INC & •SSJSSfSL COAL COMPANY CROPSTORE INC. 50 E Grant St, Box 184 Schwenksville, PA 19473 Woodstown, N J 08098 215 287-9650 609 769 0070 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT BODMIN NU-PULSE Name Address City State Phone □ Interested in Bodmin Milker □ Interested in Dealership restricted diet of about six pounds per head daily. The added weight gamed on full feed is mostly fat. Place the gilts in fencelme contact with a boar to induce early estrus and a higher i&l NU-‘o’ if & UDD* P r.m wash v ' I "MIWKdWt ■«« ***»«■»■.^ In |u .■>- Americas Nu Chemicals DAUPHIN, LEBANON & BERKS CO. CLYDE C. LUTZ Ephrata, PA 17522 717-738-1718 lEHANNA CO. JIMS EQUIPMENT Rl Box 96 Spnngville, PA 18844 717-942-6928 WAYNE CO. DONALD SCHMIDT RD 1 Box 258 A Hawley, PA 18428 717-253 2409 SOUTHJERSEY LF pregnancy rate. A good record-keeping system and an eye for structurally sound gilts can help- improve the reproductive performance of your herd. CURT CASSADY MANAGER PH. 717-626-1065 Before 7 A.M. After 6 PM. MIFFLIN CO. BYLER’S DIESEL & REFRIGERATION Belleville, PA 17004 LYCOMING CO. JAMES LUCKENBILL RD2 Montgomery, Pa 17752 717-547-1516 HUNTINGDON CO. CLAPPER FARM EQUIMENT, INC. Alexandria, PA 16611 814-669-4465 MARYLAND DON'S SALES & SERVICE RD4 80x42 Hagerstown, MD 21740 301-733 7281 I THOUSANDS OF UNITS INSTALLED IN PENNSYLVANIA * i.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers