D4-Lmcast«r Farming Saturday, May 24,1986 BY RICHARD BARCZEWSKI University of Delaware NEWARK, Del. - Like many other rural youth, I grew up in the 4-H system and was a member of my county’s judging team for a few years before assisting as a tsam coach. My experiences in 4-H (especially those related to judging) were responsible for my becoming a confident individual, able to stand up in front of a group to voice my opinions or present information. One of the schools I attended had a strong livestock judging team, and judging was taught as a college course as well as in tegrated into most of the other animal science production classes. Dependable Water Source CONRAD, lowa - Water needs of horses are determined by many factors: dry matter intake, growth, work and lactation. Water deprivation can lead to digestive disturbances such as colic for horses. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) notes that voluntary consumption of water by horses is two to four times the intake of dry matter. Also, water requirements rise 15 percent to 20 percent when environmental temperatures climb from 55 to 95 degrees. Work may increase the water needs from between 20 to 300 percent and lactation, SO to 100 percent above maintenance. The tissues of young horses contain 70 to 80 percent water, showing the need for water to grow. Livestock watering manufac turers have designed equipment to meet the water needs and drinking Lancaster Farming’s Special Annual I Coming June 7 Special dairy stories and features Local Dairy Association news What’s new in dairy research Marketing Dairy's future Readers’ favorite dairy recipes ADVERTISERS.. Get Complete Coverage by Reserving Your Space Now In This Special Issue. Deadline for Ads May 30 Phope 717-394-3047 or 626-1164 In Swine, Good Looks Won't Bring Home the Bacon Livestock judging, of course, is based entirely on visual evaluation. And this approach has some definite pitfalls especially when you’re selecting breeding stock. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve picked outstanding looking livestock at people’s farms, only to learn that the animals in question were duds as breeders, milkers, or mothers. The same thing has happened with the sheep flock on my father’s farm. It’s a shock to purchase or select an animal with all the characteristics you’re breeding for, only to be disap pointed when the offspring arrives. So my opinion on visual evaluation has changed. Don’t get Horses Require Clean, habits of horses, according to Leland Wiseman, chief operating officer, Ritchie Livestock Foun tains. Fountains with durability to withstand lot and pasture con ditions, simple installation and easy access to working parts are on the market, says Wiseman. Most importantly, they keep water in front of horses at all times for good health. “For maximum return on in vestment dollars, horse owners are encouraged to provide their animals with all the water they i want,” notes Wiseman. The top 10 States in numbers of agriculturally related jobs in food and fiber are California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, and New Jersey. Feoturin V -hole is W } daii^S A month \ me wrong! Visual appraisal is still an important part of selection; it’s just not the most important part. Performance is the key to a selection system performance with regard to the number of off spring born and weaned as well as the performance of the offspring on the finishing floor. Buying a boar without any knowledge of his performance, or at least the performance of his brothers and sisters, is like betting on a horse. Maybe you’ll win and maybe you’ll lose. There are never any guarantees, but if you select animals based on performance records, the odds will be in your favor. The dairy industry is a good “Automatic equipment keeps fresh, clean water available 24 hours a day. Heated or unheated equipment is available to keep water flowing for a few dollars a year, even through winter’s worst.” For more information on horse watering equipment call Ritchie Livestock Fountains toll-free at 1- 800-247-0025 (lowa 1-800-542-0001), or write to Ritchie Livestock Fountains, 120 South Main, Conrad, IA 50621. MID-SOUTH TRACTOR PARTS, INC. Rt 2 Box 2266 SiKeston MO 63801 Save 50% MU-Wsst’s Lsrgest and Mnt Complete Inventory CALL TOU FREE Out ol Slat* 1400-325-7070 Missouri Res 1400-392-0929 "We Ship Anywhere" NOW ACCEPTING VISA A MASTERCARD WATER-REEL Traveling Irrigators When Your Bottom Line rTop Fo, Compltte System Engintermg, Instillation i Service, S»» Your AuthonzedAgtow^Je^. ft. j Contact Hammonton, New Jersey Office ivill// V«nw rn / PHONE - 609-567-3910 7 Serving Your Total Ag Irrigation Needs . ,_7 QUALITY IRRIGATION SINCE 1953 example of how selection for performance can pay off. By utilizing performance-proven sires, milk production has in creased steadily over the past few decades. Now, I know what you’re going to say. Look at all that surplus milk! What will they do with it? And I must admit, the dairy industry will have to solve that problem through increased sales or decreased production. But by increasing production per cow, costs are cut because fewer cows need to be kept for the same output of product. If all dairy farmers decreased the size of their herds, a price based on supply and demand would prevail. Although a farmer would have fewer cows, production would remain the same and so would the milk check. What about the swine industry? Selection based on performance can increase productivity (number of pigs weaned) or increase per formance (feed per gain and growth rate). Selecting for per formance in feed per gain, growth rate and carcass traits can im prove the profitability of your herd without increasing your output of product. You can select for the traits that affect you the most. Visual appraisal is important in determining physical defects, and only you know what defects cannot Ana iz ' JMgMm i Used Parts be tolerated on your farm, it a hoped that good underlines and sound feet and legs will be selected for, but beyond that the number: are the key. It amazes me how many producers don’t ask key question: when buying a boar question] like: Have you performance-tested any of this boar’s relatives? Ho« did they perform? What was thb boar’s average daily gain to 230 pounds, feed efficiency, back fat? By demanding this information, boar producers will be forced to keep performance records, j{ they’re not doing so already. Thu in turn, will provide you wit better, more accurate data ti assist you in your selectio programs. Use visual appraisal to cull < undesirable defects and let t numbers be your guide to sell tion. I’ve done a 180-degree tu naround with regard to methods selection. More and more boi producers are also implements! selection based on performance i their programs. As a matter i fact, a recent meeting was held I discuss the possibilities of is plementing performance dal along with visual evaluation in tl National 4-H Judging Contest. Who knows what the futi holds? HAY, STRAW, f EAR CORN. 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