A2o—Lancaster Famine, Saturday, February 12,1983 Performance Index Sow is new culling tool BLAIR Long-term produc tivity of a sow can be influenced by her nutritional level as a baby pig, says Penn State extension swine specialist Matt Parsons. But, good nutrition alone can’t turn a sow with poor genetic potential into a top litter producer Parsons warned York swine producers at their Monday management meeting. A sow herd should be culled by one-fourth to one-third yearly, weeding out the sows that farrow and raise small litters with lower weaning weights, he advised. Proper culling only can be done with careful record keeping, the swine specialist emphasized. Identification of every individual through eartags or notching is a must for tracking a sow’s per formance. One new culling tool for pork producers is the Sow Performance Index, or SPI. In SPI evaluation, computerization figures an “in dex” based (m the number of pigs born alive, and the sow’s milking ability, based on the overall litter weight at 21 days. Adjustments in the program can be determined using factors that take into consideration variables such as the sow’s or gilt’s age, and the weaning age of the litter. Hie resulting index is a production comparison "grade” that ranks a sow against her herd mates. Low fonnuleil Buildings by Butler | FARMER fb.Ho] Box 337. Oxlord. PA 19363 ■ Dealer Inquiries Available in. Pennsylvania Counties: Armstrong Indiana ■ Erie Crawford. Warren Elk Cameron, McKean. Clinton. Lycoming, " Sullivan Wyoming Luzerne. Columbia. Butler. Mercer. Lawrence. Beaver. ■ Bradford. Susquehanna Adams, Cumberland, York New Jersey Counties - " Sussex Morns, Passaic, Atlantic, Cape May. Monmouth, Middlesex, ■ Somerset, Warren. Hunterdon Maryland Counties - Kent. Queen Annes, Talbot. Dorchester New York Counties - Orleans. Genesse. Monroe, I Livingston. Allegany Steuben Yates, Seneca Cayuga. Tempkms, Schuyler, Tioga, Chemung. Broome, Chenango, Madison, Onondaga. Oswego. Jet | ferson, Lewis. OneKfa. Herkimer Fulton. Montgomery. Otsego Delaware, Schohaire. Sullivan. Orange. Ulster. Greene | No Dealer Fees. D Name “ Address County City Phone indexed sows show up with the poorest index numbers, and become prime candidates for good management culling. Other reasons for culling sows include obvious physical problems, bad disposition and poor rebreeding performance which Parsons cited as a highly inheritable trait. Replacements gilts should be selected from the highest producing families, from mothers with proven milking abilities. Their skeletal system should be correct and sounds. The mammary system is critical to a sow’s success, and 12 well spaced nipples are recommended for a gilt to be moved into the breeding herd. While some gilts may show several more nipples, Parsons warned that, while a sow could raise larger litters on ad ditional nipples, it is likely the additional pigs would be runts. Nipples should be checked for inversions, or a turning in at the end. Also undesirable are blind nipples, more frequently seen on gilts raised on cement, pin nipples which are smaller than normal size, and poorly spaced nipples, which can result in uneven milk production. Nonnalness of the reproductive system can be checked by ob serving if the vulva area is fully developed, Parsons noted.—J.B. FARMSTEAD® 1 - Building Engineered For Farmer Erection State. Bethlehem More food news when specified as roofing or siding. Gatvalume is warranted, under exposure to normal atmospheric conditions, for a period of twenty years against rupture, perforation, or structural failure KNOXVILLE CONSTRUCTION Knoxville, Pa. 16928 PH; 814-326-4188 C & M SALES INC. ORVILLE MACK W.R. MOODY. 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Mifflintown, Pa. 17059 PH: 717-436-2151 Erysl Pel as AR Vac Deworm Sow Traits (5 is.best) 54321 Birth weight 54321 Birth uniformity 54321 Farrowing ease 54321 Speed of farrowing 54321 Mothering ability 54321 Milking ability 54321 Tenperoent 54321 Cleanliness 54321 Feet a legs 54321 Weaning uniformity Functional teats: $6O IN 1 PROGRAM ENDS POGO INC. 1841 Jerry’s Road Street, Md. 21154 PH: 301-692-5350 O. A. NEWTON & SON CO. Bridgewlte, Delaware 19933 PH: 302-337-8211 ST SEE \H &IY 982 FOUR COUNTIES M. W. HOOK CONTRACTOR CONSTRUCTIO R.D., Box 249' R . D . #2. Box 163 Goalport. Pa. U&f Peach Bottom. PA 17 PH: 814-672-5751 PH: 717-548-261! TRI-STATE MARINE KELLER BUILDI DIST. INC. j SYSTEMS INC Route 256 i R.D. <1 Box 203 Deale. Md#|S7» A Lewtsburg. PA 178, PH: 301-86 WW. PH; 717-524-066) # Grain proj CAMP HILL An An Farm Bureau Fedei economist expects the I acreage reduction aqd payi kind programs, designed to production of grains and ct 1963, to cut production stantially but cause little di prices for the 1963-64 mai year. Franklin I plaq the winner in the Frai 1982. Swailes used the first-piace yield of 18 Chambersburg, left, produced 177 bushels XL6I. The awards we County Corn Clinic whi AT 09< RU ARY 28th
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