DB—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 18,1984 ST. LOUIS, MO. - What do a styrofoam cooler and a 400-pound boar have in common? They both contain genetics that can be used by hog producers to improve the ef ficiency of their breeding stock. Contained in the cooler is the latest genetic package offered by Kleen Leen, Inc., the swine breeding stock subsidiary of the Ralston Purina Co. David Cardin, Cooperative meeting (Continued from Page D 7) part of the business meeting, but results will not be known until all meetings in each of the 16 districts are completed next week. Several districts, including District Four, hold more than one meeting. Atlantic Director Clyde Martin, East Earl, discussed the financial challenges the cooperative faced in 1983, brought about in part because of the instability of the world economy and the strength of the U.S., dollar in comparison with other currencies. Martin noted that more breeding units were sold in the member area in 1983 than in 1982. He added that breeding efficiency is up, and at an all time high, which is good for all dairymen. Martin said that with the Cooperative growing more of its own forages in the past year, feed costs for the bulls at the stud are more reasonable N. Alan Bair, director of RISSLER FORAGE BLENDERS For Total Mixed Rations AND GRAIN MIXERS Ask us about our mixing feed cart. Buy direct and get lowest price. Winter discounts while stocks last. Priced from $1700.00 for model 25 cu. ft., to $3800.00 for model 190 cu. ft. 6 sizes avail able. Optional electronic scales or dial scales avail able. JKSBt" M Built for those who want more for their investment by I.H. RISSLER MFG. CO. RD3, Denver Rd. Denver, PA 17517 For information on conveyors and feeders contact Martin M. Rissler RD#l Stevens, PA 17578 (215) 267-2244 Tips offered on using boar semen Kleen Leen president says, "For several year, we have advocated selective use of artificial in semination in the independently owned breeding herds that produce our crossbred gilts and boars. AI reduces the risk of disease when these herds are introducing new blood lines and genetics into their operations, and has proven so ef fective we decided to make the member services for the Cooperative, gave a slide presentation of the 1984 sire program, stressing the new genetic base change which is in effect for the first time this year Bair pointed out the importance of comparing bulls using only data with the PD 82 information for accurate comparisons. He also discussed the Cooperative’s Linear Mate program, through which 100,000 cows have now been evaluated and had sire recommendations made In addition to one full time evaluator, there are 10 Lineai Mate specialists who serve on a part time basis New sire proofs were also part of the presentation Bair noted that the USDA data places Atlantic's sires well above the average in the AI industry, showing the genetic superiority of the sires available to members For more literature see below (215) 267-2453 semen available to the entire in dustry,” he explains. Kleen Leen semen is available in four lines. Hampshire, Yorkshire, Duroc and Landrace. Although the company offers crossbred gilts and boars, it maintains purebred herds to guarantee and improve the quality of lines in these crosses. Commercial semen is taken from the top 5 percent of the purebred boars at the Kleen I>een AJ facility in Williamsburg, Ind. The selection criteria for choosing boars to produce semen is the same used to select boars produced by the breeder herds. “Boar quality is rated by an index created by Kleen Leen, called the Genetic Potential Rating Index. This measure evaluates breeding stock on characteristics with high hentability which affect the value of producing a hog, including backfat, rate of gain, and feed ef ficiency,” says Cardin. Semen marketed by Kleen Leen is from 130 or higher GPR boars. Performance tests on this semen show that for a group of 109 matings sows had an average conception rate of 83.2 percent with AI and average litter size of 9.37 pigs born MECHANICAL Engineers The Complete Mulch System PLUG MIX PUNTER - Model 900 M You can provide uniform optimum environ ment in the seed zone over one two or three rows with our new Model 900 M Peat Plug Planter Plug In seed and fertilizer with a blended growing medium in one simple oper ation even through mulch Seed germination and plant growth is more uniform no compac tion or crusting problem alive A larger group of 563 matings had a conception rate 6.4 percent below natural service rates and an average litter size of 9.32 pigs born alive. According to Cardin, the slightly lower conception rates with AI are more than justified by the gam in disease prevention. “The use of AI to decrease the chance of in troduction of disease is very im portant to the breeder herds. Should a hog producer producing stock for us fail to meet Kleen Leen’s health standards, the producer is not allowed to sell animals through the company,” he explains. “The semen we ship is guaran teed to arrive within two days after collection to virtually any location within the hog belt,” says Cardin. "Semen will be shipped in plastic containers packed in a styrofoam cooler to protect it against tem perature extremes during transit. Delivery will be through either commercial courier or the post express mail services, and producers receiving semen that is more than two days old will not have to pay for the semen,” Cardin states. Until now problems with *****■•“*■' MULCH PUNTER For Pots ■ Model 900 The all new precision Mulch Planter sets peat pots Jiffy 7's etc and other roofed plants through plastic mulch Spacing ad|ustable from 10' ■ to 60 in a row Specially designed pockets pierce mulch Adjustable rubber packers firm the soil around the plants A water valve is also available foi SMOOTH LONG LASTING ECONOMICAL PFRFORMANCE use Mechanical A model for every transplanting job MECHANICAL TRANSPLANTER COMPANY Write for free literature today 1 BOX 10088 • I i5O S CFNTRAI AT (I S 31 • HOUAND MICHIGAN 49423 Phone AC 616 396 8738 freshness have combined with producer inexperience in the actual administration of boar semen have retarded the acceptance of ar tificial insemination. AI is used m less than 5 percent of all hog operations in this country. For producers lacking experience with AI, Dr. Cardin recommends the following; - Use semen as soon as possible, within one to three days after receiving a shipment. - Know when sows and gilts come into standing heat. - Know how long they stay in heat - sows usually remain in heat longer than gilts. - Inseminate gilts immediately after the onset of heat and again after 12 hours. - Breed sows based on the number of hours they have been in heat and the planned number of in seminations. Kleen Leen provides a chart to cover six different com binations of heat schedules and breeding frequencies - Inseminate sows m small pens that make control of the animals easier. - Keep a boar nearby to help bring out the sow’s gilt’s breeding in stincts. HENRY K. FISHER INC. SANDBLASTING AND SPRAY PAINTING Aerial Ladder Equipment 667 Hartman Station Rd. Lancaster, PA 393-6530
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