D22—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 6,1581 Looking at past , present and future of Al LANCASTER Modern dairy cattle breeding got its start with the introduction of artificial in semination in the early 1940’5. Dairv leaders and extension workers were optimistic as to the amount of genetic improvement that would result from the new technology. The early impact of AI on non descript herds is not documented but it is thought that Al was responsible for bringing such herds into the same breeding pool with the better herds of the day. It’s also suggested that Al did not in its early days help the better bred herd. Sire evaluation techniques were too crude and led dairymen to use bulls that were later found to be inferior. Fifteen to twenty years passed before scientists began to systematically compare ar tificially and naturally sired daughters in tested herds. Studies in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s showed that there was little production difference between the two groups. In the 1960’s a few AI units pioneered the concept of progeny testing their own sires within the AI system. At about the same tune the herdmate comparison technique was accepted as a superior method of sire evaluation. As these new procedures were implemented within the' dairy cattle breeding industry it became evident that AI herds were un proving their production capabilities more rapidly than the non-AI herds. USDA workers estimated that genetic trend in the Holstein breed between 1968 and 1975 was about 77 pounds per year, as compared to a 39-pound per year gam from 1960 and 1975. Estimates of potential rates of progress that are possible under optimum testing and selection programs are in the range of 200 to 300 pounds per year. Prospects m the immediate future are for some “fine tuning” of the system. This would include: (a) Adjusting for the quality NEW UNDERGROUND STEEL FUEL STORAGE TANKS Capacity Diameter Length Gauge Weight Price FOB (Gallons) (Thickness) (Pounds) Quarryville 285 575" 12 278 114.00) 550 4’o” 6’o" 10 549 210.001 550 4’o” 6’o” 7 751 262.001 1.000 4'o" 10’8’’ * 10 827 310.00) 1.000 4’o” 10’8" ~ 7 1,129 390.00) 1.000 5'4” 6’o” 7 1.028 362.00) 1,500 5’4” 9'o” 7 1,388 486.00) 2.000 5*4” 12’0” 7 1.735 593.00) 3.000 5’4” 17'11" 7 2.432 800.00) 4.000 5’4" 23’10” 7 3,130 1009.00) 5.000 8’0” 13'7” 1/4” 4,484 1645.00 6.000 8'0” 16'2” 1/4” 5,123 1800.00 8.000 8’0" 21'6" 1/4" 6,475 2230.00 10.000 8 0” 26’10” 1/4” 7,825 2660.00 10.000 lO’O" 17'0” 1/4” 6,956 2405.00 12.000 lO’O" 20'6” 1/4” 8,074 2800.00 12.000 106" 187” 1/4” 7,900 2690.00 15.000 106" 23'2” 5/16" 11,857 4130.00 20.000 106" 31'0” 5/16" 15,105 5160.00 25.000 10’6” 387" 3/8” 22,115 8135.00 30.000 10’6" 46’4” 3/8” 25,999 9430.00 Tanks all bear Underwriters’ Label, and are coated with black asphaltum paint We can provide timely delivery from Quarryville, PA (15 miles from the Pennsylvania Maryland line) to Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey & New York Contact us for delivery costs We invite inquiries by phone or mail FIJUL- RITE & GAS BOY * f=»UMF*S HOWARD E. GROFF CO. (genetic merit) of the mates of the many dams of young sires are young sires, (b) Adjustment for being selected from a limited days carried calf, and (c) More number of herds and outstanding accurate selection of the dams of cows in other herds are being young sires. In the latter case missed. Preferential treatment of adjustment for days earned calf cows that have the potential for would seem important. Use of the contract matings will continue to new Cow Index procedures that be an unsolvable problem. This is incorporate the female relation- likely to become even more serious ships should help. as the Embryo Transplant There are some who feel that too program gams in populantv and Pa. farm labor force up HARRISBURG - Penn sylvania's farm labor force was estimated at 115,000 workers during the week of April 12-18. This is six percent above last April’s 109,000 farm workers, according to the Pennsylvania Crop Reporting Service. Farm operators and unpaid family members throughout the commonwealth numbered 81,000, up 13 percent, while hired workers decreased eight percent to 34,000. Berks Co. to hold wool pool READING The Berks County Sheep and Wool Growers wool pool will be held on June 10, from 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the J. Paul Leid building in the Fairgrounds Square Mall, Rt. 222, sth Street Highway, Reading, PA. The buyer for the wool will be Prouvost and Leferbue. Clair Engle and Lester P>urdette, Penn State Animal Extension Scientists will do the grading for the pool. The prices for this years pool include: medium-$.93, fine and 1/2 staple $1.05 and Medium rejects for $.70. In order to help keep expenses at a minimum, any wool producers are asked to give free help at the wool pool, at any time during the Over Forty Years of Reliable Service Fuel Oil, Gasoline, and Coal 111 E. State Street, Quarryville, PA 17566 Phone; 717-786-2166 The average workweek for Pennsylvania farm operators during the survey period was 45.4 hours. Other unpaid family workers averaged 34.9 hours and hired workers averaged 31.9 hours. National averages are 37.8 hours for farm operators and other family members, and 37.9 hours for hired workers. Family workers include family members who work 15 hours or more without receiving cash day. For more information on the pool itself or the prices contact the Berks County Extension Service. the potential rewards for having a “super” cow are multiplied many fold. The possible improvements just mentioned offer little when compared to the greater use of technology now available. Estimates are that 40 percent of the milking cows and 80 percent of the virgin heifers in the national herd are still bred non-AI. If these 6 percent wagws. Hired workers include all persons working one hour or more for cash wages during the survey week. Farm wage rates, for all methods of pay, converted to an hourly rate, averaged $3.66 in Pennsylvania. The national average, $3.92, was up 31 cents from 1980. Commonwealth field workers averaged $3.58 an hour while livestock workers took home an average of $3.15 per hour. Nationally, the total number of workers on farms April 12-18 was 3,662,500, an increase of 221,100 from last April. Family workers and operators totaled 2,402,900, an increase of 147,900. The number of hired workers rose 73,200, com pared to last April, to $1,259,600. X 'vl I ' VACATION CLUB ACCOUNTS IN *l.*2. *5, *lO or *2O PER WEEK AMOUNTS Free... if You Join A Vacation Club Now! A FARMER'S ALMANAC GUIDE TO HOUSE PLANTS! Plus. . . ★ A FREE PLANT KIT TO GROW YOURSELF! 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A summary of the past, present and future of AI shows: -The first 20 years of AI were disappointing in that AI sired cattle in tested herds showed little superiority. -Production levels of AI cattle clearly began to pull ahead of their non-AI counterparts in the 1960’5. -Estimates of genetic progress today are 3 to 4 as great as they were prior to 1965. -Currently, genetic gain is thought to contribute more to in creases in overall production than all other factors combined. This was not true in the past. -Present systems of sire testing could theoretically give us up to 300 pounds gam per year. -Greatest potential for im mediate gam revolves around the increased use of production testing to identify superior dams and much greater use of AI sires in the national herd. INTEREST 514% (Compounded Daily) MAKES FOR A HAPPIER VACATION! First Federal’s Vacation Club accounts earn you 5Vz percent interest com pounded daily and make it easier for you to plan a better vacation Join Now! 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers