By ? Dr. Richard Barczewsßi ' County Extension Agent University of Del. Running Around In Circles I occasionally judge small live stock shows, and when I do, I usu ally take the opportunity to stress some of the more important criteri— a in selecting animals. These criteria include growth rate, feed efficiency, backfat thickness and loin eye area, to name a few. I real- C.B. HOOBER & SON, INC. ■ HOOBER EQUIPMENT, INC. Intercourse, PA | «VBm Middletown. DE (717) 768-8231 ■ ■■■* (302) 378-9555 TWO LOCATIONS All New And Used Products Backed By Hoober Parts And Service Lykens Valley Structures Cedar Lawn Furniture & Redwood Lawn Furniture Available 10'x14'Rectangle ready (or shipping 10' Victorian Gazebo Victorian Screened Gazebo Lykens Valley Structui'es are built using all pressui'e tested (SYP .40) We Use All Galvanized Nails For Maximum Durability. Gazebos Are Available in B’, 10’, 12’ & 14’ (Also Optional) Benches & Screening & Tables. Wishing Wells & Bird Feeders & Lawn Fui’niture & Mailboxes Also Available In Pre-Fab Kits. (Deluxe Model Only). B’, 10’, 12’, 14’, 18’ (Ready For Shipping) R.D. 2 Box 59 I Leave Message (717) 692-2645 Millersburg, Pennsylvania 17061 I No Sunday Calls Delivery Is Also Available I Also Dealer Inquiries Welcome ize that there are trails (such as underlines) that must be evaluated visually. But the question remains; are level lop lines, thickness of bone and pastern angles economi cally viable traits? As of this writing, few, if any, studies have attempted to link such visible traits to the productivity or longevity of a sow or boar in the herd. The lack of information makes it almost impossible to give any weight to these criteria in a complete selection process. When I was starting out in 4-H INTRODUCTORY OFFER Cedar Gazebos 5% More Than Pressure Treated Gazebos Swine Management - ' i:.. club work 16 years ago, it took eight weeks to grow a broiler chicken. Now it takes less than seven. Changes like these can only happen when productive trails are singled out, and an intensive selec tion program is initialed for that trait. Earlier this summer, 1 was asked to assign (he live placings on the carcass lamb contest at the Mary land Sheep and Wool Festival. Judging a carcass contest really puts you on the spot. After all, the proof is in the carcass and what it Jft ft —, Column actually yields. While some judges appraise animals visually, other judges rate them in terms of how they’re likely to cut out. But the only objective way to evaluate an animal for its carcass traits is to measure the carcass and make your based on what you find. Fortunately, we now have some methods for measuring carcass traits without sacrificing the ani mal. We can, therefore, select indi viduals based on their measured carcass traits and use these animals in our breeding programs. In addition to growth rate, other non-visual criteria that must be measured are feed efficiency and backfal thickness. Currently, most test stations only measure pen feed efficiencies, but the technology exists to calculate individual ani mal feed efficiency as well. The equipment is expensive but accu rate and offers information that can add confidence to your selections. It’s a shame that, while some agricultural commodities such as agronomic crops, vegetables and even the poultry and dairy indus tries have been surging ahead in productivity, the swine industry Al the May meeting of the Air ville 4-H Club, Chotty Ault, a naturalist al Muddy Run Park, gave a talk and tour of the bluebird nesung and habit areas. She gave an informative talk and many questions were answered. The June meeting was held al the home of Amy and Jeff Dou glas. A gentleman from “Make-a- Wish” Foundation, talked about the program, and how membrs could help a terminally ill child have something he or she would like to have or see. The Airville 4-H Club has adopted this program HORIZON* CL Lets you vaccinate against four major respiratory n For the supplier nearest you, call the 1-800-247-6782 or call your sales representative pictured here: S HORjZOhTIZ On# of the “V#r#atil# Vbccin# Lints” 'Trademark of Diamond Scientific Co , Dee Molnce, 1A 50317 tm Trademark of Pioneer Hl-Bred International, Inc . Dee Moines, IA. ©i m Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 13, 1988HE23 seems to have been going around in circles. We haven't set ourselves a common goal to shoot for. We keep changing our minds. Let’s decide what traits we want to achieve, and then keep our eyes on that goal. The ideal hog doesn’t have to be pretty, large-boned, flat-topped or big-eared, as some judges might like to see, but it should meet spe cific performance criteria. How about a hog that will grow to 230 pounds in 130 days? Cut a 5.5-inch loin eye? Have .8 inch of backfat at 230 pounds? Come from a litter of 12 weaned pigs? And have a mother that successfully weaned 10 litters of pigs in her lifetime? Docs all this sound impossible? It’s not. But achieving this ideal hog does require an investment of time and the commitment to mea sure trails and select superior ani mals capable of meeting, or pro ducing offspring that meet, the above criteria. Changes don’t come overnight. Do you think reaching such goals is worth working for, or would you rather just keep running around in circles? Airville Club as their project for the fall. A Bike/ Walk-a-thon to raise money for this project was held on Wednes day, August 3. On June 22, club members look a tour of the Gettysburg Battle field. Everyone enjoyed this trip and much was learned from the Battlefield tour guide. Thanks to Don Grove for getting us there in the BUS!!!! There were 48 mem bers and parents who went on the trip and later many of them enjoyed the Granite Hill water slide to get cooled off on that hot day. Distributed by /3S\ PNMEER- PkxMcr Hl-Bied International, Inc Microbial Genetic* DKrMoti Rich Lutz (215) 287-9732
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