D2—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, October 15,1983 Jr. Angus show adds terminal steer class ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Junior Angus breeders start looking for that special Angus steer to exhibit at next year’s National Junior Angus Show in Columbus, (Mo, July 8-10. A terminal purebred Angus steer show will be held in conjunction with the 16th National Junior Show, reports Brian McCulloh, American Angus Association director of junior activities. This show marks the first time ever the American Angus Association has sponsored and promoted a show of this type. "The concept of a terminal steer show is becoming more popular I ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■ The opportunity to contribute to the new livestock section of this publication is certainly an ap preciated challenge. Having served as Lancaster County’s Extension Livestock Agent for the past 18 months, I have become involved in several aspects of the local livestock industry and am impressed by its impact on Penn sylvania’s agricultural economy. Lancaster County’s heritage is rich in livestock production boasting over 285,000 hogs, 270,000 head of cattle and calves, and 5,700 sheep. These totals rank the county first in both hog and beef production and third in sheep. Several major marketing outlets are within the county’s boundries and the agribusiness segment is very important to the needs of producers. Youth are actively involved in 4- H and FFA livestock programs, and their contribution to the in dustry is expressed through the promotion of red meat products to the general public by way of junior livestock shows and sales. NEWARK, DE - A recent report on research at the Universi ty of Nebraska concerning the use of raw soybeans in swine rations has stimulated considerable pork industry interest. Pork producers are always on the lookout for alternative feed ra tions. At the current price of soy beans, not many growers will be tempted to feed raw soybeans now, but some may have tucked away the thought for a future day when they’ve got more beans than they know what to do with. However, the idea may not be as good as it sounds, cautions Univer sity of Delaware extension livestock specialist Ken Kephart. He feels there are still questions to be answered regarding the effec tiveness of untreated soybeans as a supplemental protein source for swine. The main problem with raw soy beans is the trypsin inhibitor, a tox-in that limits protein digestion in nonruminants, including pigs. “We’ve known for almost 70 years that uncooked soybeans aren’t suitable for hogs” Kephart says. “Heat the beans to destroy the trypsin inhibitor and they’re an excellent source of protein. But now researchers at the University of Nebraska report that you .can feed raw soybeans to pregnant gilts with no adverse at throughout the nation as show managers and breed associations are attempting to incorporate education and practicality into Junior steer projects,” says Mc- Culloh. “This type of show will justifiably reward the junior cattleman who exhibits the Angus steer that excels in weight per day of age along with yielding a car cass that is valuable from both a quality and yield grade stand point." The show is open to junior members of the American Angus Association. All entries must be (Turn to Page D 4) Livestock Ledger Chester D. Hughes Extension Livestock Specialist Through this column, I hope to provide educational ideas, helpful hints, up-to-date research findings and enjoyable reading. Including information pertinent to the season, the economy and the total livestock industry are also in priority. From time to time this space may be used to recognize outstanding achievements and contributions by producers, in dustry leaders, agribusiness personnel and youth. I will be open to suggestions and comments from the readership in hopes of providing useful and needed information. This writing challenge gives me an opportunity to become even more involved in the livestock industry and will open the door to meeting many more of our good, agricultural people. Livestock Ledger, written by Chet Hughes, has been added to the livestock section to provide a specialist’s viewpoint on areas such as nutrition, health, breeding, housing and herd management. The column will run every other week. Are raw soybeans a good mix for sows? least in the short run.” According to Kephart, gilts in the Nebraska study received 14 percent crude protein rations that contained either soybean meal or raw soybeans as the supplemental protein source. The gilts remained on the rations for the first 110 days of gestation, then were switched to a normal 15 percent com-soy diet. Researchers report that the raw soybeans had no effect on the number of pigs bom alive or on pig weights at birth, seven, 14 or 21 days of age. Sows in both groups lost about the same amount of weight during lactation. One unexpected result was that survival among piglets in the raw soybean group was nearly 10 percent greater than among those in the soybean meal group, and the difference was statistically significant. Is this a breakthrough? Before answering that question, Kephart says several facts need to be considered. “This study used pregnant gilts, not growing finishing pigs,” he says. “And the data reported were from only one reproductive period. Even so, the results aren’t so surprising when you consider the work conducted earlier, during the 19705, in Min nesota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.” Those early experiments showed By LIVESTOCK LATEST iirirrir^ ILbUUmJp Simmental genetic trait leaders named BOZEMAN, MT Ninety-one purebred Simmental bulls have been designated as Genetic Trait Leaders for 1984, the American Simmental Association announced recently. Of the bulls, 25 were selected as trait leaders in more than one category. Traits tested in the program are calving ease, weaning weight, yearling weight, carcass value, daughters' first calf calving ease, and daughters’ first calf weaning weight. One bull, Signal, qualified in four traits earning distinction in weaning weight, yearling weight, daughters’ first calf calving ease and daughters' first calf weaning weight. Signal, a top genetic trait leader, scored well in four of the trait tested categories. that depriving pregnant gilts of adequate protein has little effect on the number of pigs bom alive. And despite some conflicting results, many studies show that sows on low protein diets farrow pigs of normal size. As for the apparent increase in survival rates, Kephart asked Dr. M. A. Crenshaw, one of the resear chers involved in the study, whether this effect was real or by chance. “We feel the extra fat in the raw beans was responsible for the in crease in pig survival,” Crenshaw said, adding that work is continu ing with the same group of sows. With the second litter, the researchers saw a six percent in crease in survival, down from the 10 percent increase observed with the first litter. They say the reason was probably because the sows were older. How much “true” protein is a sow getting when fed a 14 percent diet containing raw soybeans? Crenshaw guessed it would be less than 14 percent but more than the nine percent sows would get from a straight corn diet. He told Kephart he and his colleagues plan to con duct metabolism studies soon. Un til they have those results it’s im possible to tell how well the sow is digesting the protein in a raw soy bean ratioh. Seven bulls, including ABR Sir Arnold 6809, Beat, Bold, C and B Western, MCR Monarch ID, Siegfied and Uslar qualified in three different traits. Seventeen bulls qualified in two categories, while 14 others made their initial appearance on the Genetic Honor Roll. Trait Leader recognition is the result of evaluation of 581,127 progeny performance records, representing 57,732 management units. The comparative per formance data on purebred bulls is printed in the National Simmental Sire Summary, according to the association’s executive vice president Earl B. Peterson. What about the cost? Earlier this summer when soybeans were $7.93 a bushel, soybean meal (48%) was $274 a ton, and com $3.90 a bushel, a 14 percent crude protein ration using soybean would have cost $l6B a ton-assuming no mix ing cost and $l5 for vitamins and minerals. At the same time, a 14 percent ration wittr raw beans would have cost $174 a ton. It wouldn’t have paid to feed raw soybeans to sows then, and at cur rent feed prices, it certainly would be more expensive to feed a raw soybean ration than one containing soybean meal, Kephart says. “The Nebraska experiment showed an increase in baby pig survival, which in some cases might outweigh the higher feed cost,” he adds. “But we need more data to decide if this benefit is real All Simmental bulls that meet progeny qualifying standards are automatically included in the Sire Summary and are eligible for Genetic Trait Leader con sideration. Sires may be named in more than one trait, provided their progeny rank in the top two per cent for each trait. The 1984 National Simmental Sire Summary, which will contain data on a total of 1,426 bulls, will be released this fall. The Sire Summary is mailed free of charge to all members while non members may obtain copies by mailing a check for $5 per copy, to the American Simmental Association, One Simmental Way, Bozeman, MT. 59715. and whether it will occur with older sows.” Also needed is more research to leam the long term effects of feeding raw soybeans to sows. So. far, scientists at Nebraska have, had no problems getting them to cycle or settle. But it is not known what will happen after several lit ters. As for feeding untreated soy beans to growing-finishing pigs, could this be done without affec ting performance? “No,” says Kephart. “Up to market weight, pigs consuming raw beans ex perience depressons in growth rate and feed efficiency. That’s been shown consistently by many nutri tionists, including those at Nebraska who are feeding raw beans to sows.”
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