DlO—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 26,1983 ST. LOUIS, Mo. America’s swine breeding industry has come of age. Many of today’s com monplace genetic concepts were considered major innovations when first introduced, reports Kleen Leen, Inc., a swine breeding stock supplier, celebrates its 21st birthday this year. “Twenty-one years does not seem like a great deal of time to life-long farmers, but an enormous amount of progress has occurred to change and improve the swine industry in that time,” declares David Cardin, Kleen Leen president. “Producers looking at their business today may recognize improvement in feeds, facilities, management techniques and herd health. But some of the greatest breakthroughs came in swine genetics, and many of these went unnoticed,” he continues. Cardin believes genetic im provements are often overlooked because “they can only be measured by good production data. But, in the last 21 years, important advancements have been made, not just in the gene pool that is the basis of the nation’s breeding herds, but in the way replacement stock is selected for a specific hog operation,” he ex plains. “Producers now can select boars and gilts for improved herd health, for increase of certain economically desirable traits in their market hogs, or for im provement of litter size. And they can make a selection based on herd data and the experience of other PAUL B. SELF LOCKING FEED THRU FENCE ★ Ail cows can be released at one time or individually ★ When handle is in lock position, cow automatically locks as it enters ★ No more chasing cows ALSO AVAILABLE • Standard Free Stalls • Fencing • Gates (38" - 48” - 54" • Automatic Head Gates high) PAUL B. ZIMMERMAN, INC. Hardware • Farm Supplies Custom Manufacturing Crane Service Swine genetics come of age producers. This was not com monplace in 1962,” adds Cardin. Improves Breeding Stock He cites recent developments in Kleen Leen’s purebred herds as an example of quiet but very significant changes in the breeding stock available to producers today. “We raise purebreds that arc the genetic foundation of the crossbreds we sell as breeding stock. Since 1979, our average Yorkshire litters are an entire pig larger, Landrace litter weights have increased 14 pounds at 21 days, Hampshires have lost a tenth of an inch in backfat, and all four of our lines (the other being Duroc) are getting to 220 pounds market weight 10 to 14 days sooner,” he declares. Improvements that can be measured by performance data are only part of the story, Cardin continues. “The other part of the story is the increasingly sophisticated hog producer who recognizes the value of efficiency in pork production and is willing to make changes, including investing capital to increase productivity. “Twenty years ago, selling crossbred breeding stock required a tremendous amount of education. Today, most hog producers are familiar with the advantages of heterosis, or hybrid vigor, and make purchase decisions for breeding stock based on data, and not on loyalty to one specific line,” Cardin insists. “One of the reasons we see less overall resistance to our crossbreds,” he explains, “is that when Kleen Leen fflOufll'l ★ Heavy duty construction ★ Stabilizer on bottom of yoke for extra strength ★ Custom built to your specifications' ★ You can release all cows or hold cows that need treatment. • Automatic Gate Latches Box 128 R.D. #4. Lititz, PA 17543 Wood Corner Rd. 1 Mile West of Ephrata Phone:7l7-738-1121 00QD0QI THREE SIZES: SMALL - For Calves UpTols Months Old ADJUSTABLE - For Heifers & Cows 8 Months And Older (Pictured) LARGE - For Cows 15 Months And Older was started, a decision was made to market recognizable crosses. Producers who purchase a crossbred boar or gilt usually know something about swine genetics, and often like to select an animal based on traits and breeds with which they have had experience. Recognizable crosses have helped put - out crossbreds into the mainstream of the industry,” he adds. Health concern Another factor that has boosted growth of the seedstock business is the need to purchase healthy animals. According to Cardin, concern for herd health is actually the reason Kleen Leen was formed in 1962 by an Indiana veterinarian who pioneered the large-scale use HIGH PRESSURE WASHING & DISINFECTING POULTRY HOUSES AND VEAL PENS Spraying For Mites And Beetle Control MAYNARD L. BEITZEL Witmer, PA 17585 717-392-7227 Spraying since 1961. Precast Concrete UPRIGHT BUNKER SILO Featuring a single component design for fast Installation and completion. The sections bolt together and the use of a sealant placed In the tongue and groove creates a sealed wall surface The sections may be dismantled and relocated Customers may select any length or width In S’ 2” Increments A special center wall Is available to permit placing bunker silos side by side or dividing existing trench silos In addition to silage storage, these upright units may be used as retaining walls or manure pits LENGTH MANUI B of hysterectomies with the development of Kleen Leen foundation herds. Health is still a major reason why producers purchase commercial breeding stock. In the last 20 years, the economic impact of certain diseases has grown more severe. As a result, producers are willing to invest money on specific breeding stock because they are often uncertain about the disease level that may be present in the herds of some suppliers. In most cases, producers demand health warranties and herd certification that the larger seedstock com panies may provide. “As an example,” Cardin points out, “Kleen Leen offers specific ★ Leasing Availablel ★ Sollenberger Silos Corp. A Nitterhouse Company Box N Chambertburg, PA 17201 [7l7] 264*9588 A Producer of Quality Concrete Products Since 1923 ■ Machine Wort ry { a ' Welding & ■ ■ naHor Farm Supplies ■ I W T^ r Hardware —* p J I CUSTOM BUILT WOOD & | I COAL FIRED BOILERS | | • Welders & cutting torches | ■ • Custom made farm gates, etc. ■ _ • Custom built high pressure washers * i • Stainless steel, aluminum and spot * I welding. I | • UPS Service | ■ D.S. MACHINE SHOP ■ ■ DAVID E. STOLTZFUS 1 I 3816 E. Newport Road I ■ Gordonville, PA 17529 ■ 1 Mile East of Intercourse on Rt. 772 TONNAGE TABLE FOR 8 FT. SIDEWALLS* health warranties against certain swine diseases swine dysentery, infectious atrophic rhinitis, lice and mycoplasma pneumonia and all its breeding herds are qualified free of pseudorabies and validated free of brucellosis.” The company continues to develop techniques to limit the risk of disease in an operation. Although a long-time user of ar tificial insemination in both its purebred herds and die breeder herds that produce Kleen Leen crossbreds, the company recently began offering boar semen to the entire industry. “It is a small part of the genetics business, but a growing part that is playing an (Turn to Page Dll) \ Width N. 20' 30' 40' 50' Length^y^ 60’ 215 323 432 540 70' 251 376 504 630 80’ 287 431 576 720 90’ 323 485 648 808 100’ 359 539 720 900 110' 395 593 792 989 120’ 431 648 864 1080 130’ 467 688 936 1170 140’ 503 755 1008 1260 150’ 539 808 1080 1350 ‘Based on level fill with 45 lbs I Cu Ft
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