Lancaster farming. (Lancaster, Pa., etc.) 1955-current, August 01, 1981, Image 1
VOL 26 No. 40 Texas firm develops straw for frozen embryo BY DONNA TOMMELLEO LANCASTER A straw for storing and inseminating frozen embryos has been developed by a Texas firm, Donald Seipt, Penn sylvania National Holstein Director said Thursday. However, a spokesman for Rio Vista Genetics, San Antonio, Texas said a patent for the straw may take 180 days.* Seipt, a member of a five-man panel that discussed embryo transplants at the Lancaster County Holstein Field Day, demonstrated the nine-inch plastic straw at the John Landis Farm near East Petersburg. The straw, about the same length as a cane which contains semen goblets, can be easily stored in a semen tank, said Seipt. One end of the straw is a five inch handle while the remaining four inches contains a deydrated Dairy producers, here’s what you’ve been waiting for the 1981 USDA-DHIA Sire Summary. This complete comparison of the A.L hulls in all breeds is a modem tool for working genetically towards a higher producing herd of dairy cattle. An added feature to this year’s Summary is the milk component figures, listing solids-not-fat and protein for bulls with 40 percent repeatability or greater. It’s all here for you on seventeen fact-filled pages of Lancaster Farming, starting on page DIL Herr shews hog champ BY DICK ANGLESTBIN LANCASTER - Thursday's I9lh annual Lancaster County FFA Market Hog Show may possibly If you gotta go to market, how do you make the most of it? If you’re the grand champion of the Lancaster County FFA Market Hog Show, you jump up into the auctioneer’s booth and help the bidding along. It works, too. Price went to $4.45 a pound. Here, owner Chris Herr, of Narvon, shoos Duroc out of booth at Lancaster Stockyards. COM LIBRARY c,TY M 229 p *HSEstate UNi^ RbITY < pE MNSYLVANU pa J. 6 UNIVERSITY PW£ mmmot0 r~* Demonstrated at Holstein field day embryo surrounded by an air sac and fluid. Seipt explained a certain amount of fluid must be drawn from the embryo before freezing. "The freezing process will rupture the cell,” he said. After a 90 second thaw in a warm water bath, it is neccessary to shake the straw in the same fashion one would shake a ther mometer. This causes the air sac to break and allows for the rehydration of the embryo, said Seipt. The embryo can then be in seminated with a breeding gun. Almost 400 persons that attended the Field Day got a look at the genetic innovation, which to date has been researched on beef cattle. Seipt was joined by Robert KauffmamElizabethtown, Galen Crousef*3tevens and Robert Wenger, Quarryville. The At Lancaster Show become the basis tor a script tor tfye popular TV show, "Dynasty.” Because, that’s just about what shaped up in the competition held Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 1,1981 dairymen currently use embryo transplants in their breeding programs. The panel agreed that donor animals should be the best cows in a herd and should drop bulls that can be marketed. However, Seipt cautioned that donor cows should descend from a superior cow family as well as a proven bull. In addition to the panel discussion, judging contests were held and the judging participants were divided into three groups, Under 18, Men and Women. There were a total possible 150 (Turn to Page A 22) Pa. farmers gear up for Ag Progress Days ROCK SPRINGS - The Penn sylvania farm community is once again geanng up for the annual Ag Progress Days, scheduled for August 25-27. For the sixth straight year, Penn State’s Agricultural Research Center crews are preparing the grounds to welcome the thousands of people who crowd in to see the latest in farming from crops to equipment. “This year’s show should be the biggest and best ever,” says Joseph Harrington, Penn State agronomist and general chair mand of the event. Educational displays and commercial exhibits from Canada at the Lancaster Stockyards. After ail the squeals, grunts and applause quieted down and Judge Henry Gruber, of A and B Packing, made his last round of the show ring and surveyed the last ot 153 head, not one but two family dynasties were dominant among the top award winners. One was the Herr dynasty, ot Narvon, with 18-year-old Chris repeating with the grand champion ot the show tor the second straight year and younger sister, Margaret, 14, stepping from the wings onto the stage. Margaret won the junior fitting. Chris was runnerup in the senior fitting and also showed the reserve champ in the middleweight division. And the other FFA hog dynasty emerging is that ot the Ptautz family, ot Stevens. Brothers, Mike, lb, and Tun, 14, captured no less than seven major awards. Mike had the reserve cham pionships in carcass on-toot, breeder exhibiloi and heavyweight division, plus the junioi showman championship. (Turn to Page A3O) Jim Hess, Quarryville, right, displays the first place awards he earned in the Men’s Division and Overall Judging contest at the Lancaster County Holstein Field Day at the John Landis on Thursday. Also pictured with Hess are fifth place winner, Leonard Stoitzfus, Gap, left, and third place winner. Don Eckman, Peach Bottom, center. and the eastern United States are growing m quality and numbers, providing a strong regional reputation for the event, the general chairman adds. Approximately 250 commercial companies will be exhibiting their products for home, farming, and country living. These include buildings, farm machinery, silos, feeds, crop seeds, and farm and home supplies. “A theatre program will feature a variety of home and garden related presentations each of the three days,” Harrington points out. “Included will be new ways to preserve home-grown produce, arts and crafts, selecting equip ment for the home, and recreation.” Featured exhibits include energy and resource efficient animal and crop production. Back again will be special exhibits and working demonstrations m the areas of on-farm waste disposal, soil and water conservation, and safety. "Youth activities will feature cluck hatching, puppet shows, dog obedience and training, and numerous prize-winning demonstrations by 4-H and FFA Inside This Week’s... Elevation daughter brings $15,000 at Sire Power 5a1e...A20. For a farmer, the learning never ends, and neither does Penn State's research ..A26 Seventy-six Lancaster County 4-H horse and pony club members turned out for their annual county competition last week. CIS. Young dairy couple wins Las Vegas trip. Find out how on page .DB. - - $7.50 Per Year membes,” the field days chairman notes. Ag Progress Days activities will start at 9 a.m, and end at 5 p-in. on August 25 and 27. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on August 26. (Turn to Page A 34) HOME AND YOUTH Homestead Notes, C 2; Home on the Range, C 6; Farm Women Societies, C 9; Kid's Korner, Cl 2; 4- H, Cl 3; FFA, Cl 5; FWS calendar, Cl 9. COLUMNS Editorials, A 10; Now is the time, AID; Joyce Bupp’s column, C 5; Ladies you heard? Cl 6; Ida’s Notebookfci?; Farm Talk D 3. . DAIRY Berks Holstein Clubpicruc, A 24; Adams DHIA, C4O; Bedford DHIA, C 29; Cumberland, C 39; Juniata DHIA, C2B; Mifflin DHIA, C 37; Perry DHIA, C 42; Somerset DHIA, C3l; York DHIA, C 32; Dairy Photo Album, C 26; Susquehanna Dairy Princess, Cl 7; ASDA honors members, D 5.