ASHjncMlar Farming, Saturday, May 9, 1992 HERBERT C. JORDAN Associate Professor Poultry Science Penn State University UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) Many of the 200 capon growers in Pennsylvania each year agree with industry leaders about chick bedding. Meat bird producers in the state say new, fresh, clean, useful bed ding materials are scarce or non existent at sometime each year. Broiler, roaster, capon, game bird and turkey producers say bed ding materials are too expensive today to place 2 inches of fresh, clean bedding under each flock of baby poults or chicks. Therefore, in the last 10 to 20 years, we have seen more re-use of old litter. (Bedding refers to fresh clean material; litter refers to used materials which may carry pathogens). Most people agree that cleaning and disinfecting a house for capons after every flock and starting new capons on new bedding is a valu Highest Average Ever For Calf Sale FREDERICK, Md. Bidding was brisk at this year’s Mid- Atlantic Brown Swiss Calf Sale held at the Frederick Fairgrounds recently. One of the largest crowds ever in attendance saw 29 calves aver age $1,243, the highest average in sale history. The quality of con signments merited good prices and calves went to the surround ing states of Pennsylvania, Virgi nia, and New York. One calf sold to a breeder in Alabama, and two sold to Puerto Rico. The demand for Brown Swiss is on the rise as evidenced in this successful calf sale. In fact, nine junior calves (bom March 1992) averaged $1,200. First in the ring and topping the sale with a bid at $2,400 was a March calf from Jerry Harkness, We-Gotta Farm of Marcellus, N.Y. She sold to John and Bonnie Hess, Gettysburg. The third dam is the breed lifetime milk and pro tein champion. Second high selling at $2,100 was a September calf consigned by Wayne Sliker, St Paris, Ohio. She was backed by two (VG) dams with solid production and test Howard and Norma Fleming, Burnt Mills Farm, Hollywood, MODEL CC 110-120 voit ACoptnrttd Effective, low-cost model gives continuous high voltage with positively controlled current Built to Pormok's quality stan dards Complies US National Safely Code Double (used Compleie, ready to plug into AC line Fully warranted fp M STANDARD 12 MODEL STD-12 12-volt battery operand Housed in heavy rustproof, deep drown steel case, with baked enamel finish Use any 12-volt battery LowcosMoo% solid slate construction for indoor use. Charges up to 15 miles ot fence. Fully warranted. UL listed. SALES AND SERVICE PEQUEA BATTERIES 1(0 B N. Ronks Rd., Ronks, PA 17572 Distributor & Warranty Station For Parmark Capons Do Better With Fresh Bedding able husbandry method. Here ate some factors to consid er if new chicks are placed on old, used, and untreated litter. • Old litter normally carries higher quantities of pollutants such as lead, cadmium and mercury than new bedding does, because each flock causes elements to build up. • Old litter can carry live, atte nuated or dead poultry disease pathogens from previous flocks. Growing two or more flocks of capons on one batch of bedding is not recommended. • Old litter can harbor more parasites, vermin, or eggs of parasites. • Most experts agree that all meat birds standing on bedding or litter eat some of that bedding or litter. Thus we see the diet of a bird can be affected by old contami nated litter if the bird's diet consists of 1 percent or more bedding or lit ter. Many capons do eat litter, so be careful. On necropsy, litter can be found present in small quantities or impacted in the crop or gizzard. Md. purchased the animal. Next high selling calf, and the third animal over $2,000, was a consignment of Dwayne and Mir iam Bell, Knoxville, Md., a pow erful June Conductor with a strong pedigree to match. Her dam is sired by Dotson and she is the number one cow on the Supple mental Cow Performance Index List in the January 1992 Perfor mance Summary. She sold to Ray Espcnshade, Williamsport, Md. Many calves sold to area Mary land breeders as well. “We had a great sale and I believe there is a tremendous future for the Brown Swiss breed as indicated by the interest and support of the buyers here today,” said Scott Hood, president of the Maryland-Deiaware Brown Swiss Association. Wayne Sliker sold the animals with Maryland and junior mem bers working around the ring. (SOU) SSI ssi At