A22-lancMter Farming, Saturday, February 27, 1993 Pork Producers' Livelihood (Continued from Page Al) Using the four-way cross gives producers “free use of the genetic base," said Stein. Litter evaluations He used an example of a herd, including 400 sows, and details of litter evaluations performed on it. Of an average litter, the farrowing rate was 88 percent, litter size per year was about 22.4, pigs weaned per mated female stood at 23.3, and the feed conversion was 2.73. “ Most of the operations in the U .S. have a field coversaion well over 3,” said Stein. The margin over feed costs on that particular herd was $286,000, without building, taxes, and man agement costs. “We have engineered animals that have a very fast turnaround,” he said. His breeding company deals with days to slaughter of under 150, with a 24-day farrow ing time. The target is 24 pigs per sow per year. Stein said that his company has produced the top four herd sires in Canada. “It becomes a very small world as far as genetics is con cerned,” he said. Progeny is bred with backfat taken off—and back fat is a genetic trait that is readily passed on (about 50 percent herita bility), along with loin eye, percent of ham, and percent of lean cuts. Meat color, marbeling, and other factors are heritable. The Canadian system has allow ed the swine breeders to reduce backfat and growth rate consider ably. In 1973, when they began serious strides into reducing back fat, their standard was .18 mm (or THE NEW Hl-LO BROILER FEEDER from .72 inch) even now, in the U.S., the standard is above that. “ You can make very fast strides in producing the carcass traits and upgrading your animals to meet the standards of your packers today,” he said. Percent heritable Reproductive traits are only about 10-15 percent heritable, but are important for litter survivabili ty and increasing the amount per litter per herd. Stein said intense genetic evalu ations continue in Canada on all the genetic lines. Accordingly, what they found was that there will come a time, perhaps five years hence, when “intacts” (boars instead of barrows) will be sold at market. “The industry will prob ably move in that direction,” said Stein. “Intacts can be marketed with out any (meat) taint to the consum er,” he said. Pork surveys con ducted in Australia and New Zea land proved there were no complaints from taint on the meat products from boars sold. Also, placing boars on market provides a four percent advantage on meat cutout over a barrow, according to the Thames Bend owner. Color tests Other breeds studied include the Yorkshire (loin eye and other tests) and carcass comparison of cuts, including color structure tests important to many packers. Producers can realize a cost ben efit of up to $3O on an average hog by using the proper genetics and Iress your specific needs and solve your most t problems, Cumberland engineers have taken this ity to completely rethink and rework the entire function of poultry pan feeders. . .based entirely iuggestions and requests. Pan Feeder is, in every sense of the word, your the future Totally new two-piece drop tube tllows for simple, easy removal of individual pans from the line without dis isse mblmg the tube and auger eteacoping drop tube aulomaticallv eompensaUs lor uneven floors and allows the f< <cl hiu ilsclf to be set lower to the floor Th. seal hetwtcn the pan set lions (ornj)ht(h pre\cnts sifting of feed irouiid th< (onne<hon while providing <(ui(k t jsv s* paiation for cleaning Feed level determines feed depths dirn fl\ off the bottom of the pan May Depend On Improving Herd Genetics proper feeding. “If you feed good genedcs, they respond,” he said, pointing out the importance of feeding digesdble lysine. “To maximize genedcs, it takes a number of combinations: man agement, nutrition, housing, and health,” he said. The breeder said that each genetic line requires a Richard Stein, owner of Thames Bend Breeding Company, far right, spoke at the swine biotechnology meeting on Tuesday night at Ephrata High School. From left, Charles Ackley, Ephrata Area Young Farmer adviser; Tom Moyer, Hatfield Packing representative; Dr. Robert Grayblil, swine practitioner; Mike Leinlnger, Thames Bend representative; Claudette Horst, Thames Bend representative; and Stein. Photo by Andy Andrews. THE SECRET IS OUT! certain level of nutrition, and each requites it differently. “If you want to maximize gene tics, you must also feed that gene tics,” he said. “If you only feed it average, you will only get average results from your genetics. You can make very excellent genetics look very average.” 3 teeper center cone more efficiently delivers feed to where the birds can more easily reach it Health is the number one con cern in Canada, according to Stein. “Without good health, the rest of it, you’re throwing it away,” he said. It’s also important to give grow ing pigs the proper square footage. (Turn to Pago A 23) Your Needs. . . Your Solutions. . . Your Feeder! iSmcc the Cumberland Hi-Lo Pan Feeder is made entirely of heavy duty, specially formulated plastic resins it is absolutely corrosion proof and very easy to clean Tin tntm unit rotates and has plav in 360 greatly reducing injury and bruising 71 plastic grill me orporates a unique tnangular profile in each spoke that prevents trapping and makes (leaning easier Peed level settings allow you to adjust feed levels to vour preference (Unique, two stage adjustable pan Health concern
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