C 1 O'Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, December 12, 1992 ELIZABETHTOWN (Lancas ter Co.) Keeping pace with today’s rapid increase in technolo gy, the Pro Genetics branch of White Oak Mills has opened an artificial insemination (AI) center in northern Franklin County. This 22-head boar center will play a significant role in the develop ment and performance of their top quality breeding stock. Artificial insemination serves as a notable tool for introducing superior genetics into an existing Sperm samples ready for distribution are stored In an incubator/refrigerator to maintain a temperature of exactly 65° F. Let Us Do Your Repairs And Get 10% Off On Your Parts On Call 4f~ 24 Hours kH A Day I tam If you are to busy to fix it let a Northeast Agri Systems service person help you out. And, during December and January you get 10% off on the parts used. For service or a free estimate call our toll free custom er service number 1 -800-673-2580. BH3C"™ Northeast Agri Systems, Inc. agrl systems Pro Genetics Opens Artiflcal Insemination Center herd with minimal disease risk. “By utilizing just the semen, we won’t risk bringing a diseased boar into the herd,” said veterina rian Peggy Hawkins. The boar center will provide Pro Genetics with a better avenue for introduc ing European and Canadian gene tics without jeopardizing the health of the nucleus herd. According to Dr. Mike Miller, geneticist and vice president of White Oak Mills, AI will allow valuable proven sires to have a Wm , FLYWAY BUSINESS PARK 1-39 A West Airport Rd. Lititz, PA 17543 (717) 569-2702 1-800-673-2580 •r ----- \i ssa ' il KB i j Factory Trained Personnel enuine Original cturer Parts For ilts And Warranties. Cindy Frey adds Modena Extender (nutrients) to the semen. greater impact. “We can collect semen from a boar in one central location and spread his superior genetics to numerous farm loca tions so more sows per board can be bred,” he said. With AI, a board can sire 1,600 to 2,000 litters annually, rather than the 60 to 100 litters obtained by natural service. “On the average, for every one natural boar service, AI can achieve 16 services,” said Hawkins. Pro Genetics breeding scheme maintains 200 boars representing four primary lines. “If we maxim ize AI use at each crossing farm and multiplier farm, we will be capable of handling the job utiliz ing only ten boars,” said Miller. Consequently, genetic progress CM £«««£«£« 1 s “Christmas Shopping Doesn’i Get Any Easier Than This!” Give A Gift That Lasts All Year... ONLY $19.00 PER YEAR or . $36.00 FOR TWO YEARS In PA, NJ, OH, MD, DE, NY, V£ & WV (Other Areas $29.00 Per Year or $56.00 For Two Years) PLEASE SENDUNCASTER FARMING TO: NAMI ADORES: CITY. ZIP. GIFT CARD TO READ FROI 8 j Veterinarian Peggy Hawk- Ins prepares a semen sample to determine sperm concentration. can occur more rapidly, and Pro- Genetics* gilts and boars will have better uniformity and quality than ever before. Although Western European swine producers are choosing AI in favor of natural mating, the United States has been slow to adopt the process as a standard management practice. ‘There is a lot of myth sur rounding artificial insemination,” said Hawkins. “Some people believe it’s difficult to get sows pregnant and that smaller litters are produced.” However, success rates achieve 90 percent where AI is standard practice. In particular, the reliability of the technique and the advantage of using “elite sires” has led to improved produc- LANCASTER FARMING Will SEND A GIFT CARD Announcing The Start Of The Gift Subscription LANCASTER FARMING P.O. BOX 609 EPHRATA, PA 17522 Subscriptions Will Begin With Christmas Issue ITATI .PHONE don figures in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Denmark. With packers willing to pay more for lean hogs, U.S. swine producers are becoming more genedcs conscious. “With the use of AI, we are able to send a more uniform and leaner hog to market,” said Miller. Because of the increase in com peddon among producers, AI is also beginning to occur at the commercial level. White Oak Mills is incorporat ing a complete AI program in their new 1,200-sow commercial farm in Doylesburg. Fresh semen will be collected and delivered every Monday and Thursday afternoon for the weekly matings. Rather than the usual 60 boars, this unit will be serviced with only three AI terminal sires. “Even though there are miscon ceptions about the AI process, it is very easy to collect semen and extend it into a viable dose,” said Hawkins. “The most difficult part of the process is determining when the sow/gilt is in heat, but the producer with a keen eye and a good hog sense can make AI a prominent part of his/her breeding program.” According to Miller, there are tremendous benefits available to commercial producers who incor porate AI into their units. In most cases, management practice becomes much easier. For example, when sows are batch weaned on Thursday, breed ing goes much quicker with AI than with the actual boars on (Turn to Page Cl 1) ill Thl Am NEW RENEWAL >n To
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