A3B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 19, 1994
Nathan Zack, 8-11 year group; Lisa zack, 12*15 year group;
and Be?h Elkin, senior group.
Pork Congress
(Continued from Pago A 34)
percent from the record-setting
year of 1992 (at 9.48 billion
bushels).
Pennsylvania, suffering through
a drought last year, managed only
91 million bushels for an average
of 94 bushels per acre (the state’s
best crop came in 1985, at 151.8
million bushels and 110 bushels/
acre).
This could translate into higher
feed prices throughout the year.
Com could stand at $3 or more a
bushel in the December futures (as
of Feb. 14, futures price for
December was $2.72 a bushel). He
said producers should be watching
the com futures market “like a
hawk,” because, depending on
planting and weather conditions,
the com price could soar.
After a “really strong” first
quarter, said Moore, the current
hog report indicates that pork sup
plies should drop almost 2 percent
in 1994. The January-June produc
tion should be down 3 percent. In
the June-August period, produc
tion should be the same as in 1993,
while output in the final quarter of
1994 will be down 2 percent from
the same period in 1993.
Pork as a percentage of the total
U.S. meat production in 1993
stood at 25 percent. The biggest
chunk went to poultry, at 40 per
cent. Moore said this trend will
continue. Also, more hog contract
operations will make Pennsylvani
a more and more like North Caroli
na. Of all the farms dropping out of
business in the past years, most of
them are hog operations. Although
the rate of people dropping out of
farming has slowed down, said
Moore, the dropouts in agriculture
are showing mostly in the hog
industry.
During the first quarter of 1994,
according to Moore, hog prices
should average about $46. In the
April-August period, prices should
average about $5O. The final three
months of the year should have
prices about 547-S4B. (As of Feb.
11, hog futures in July this year
were at $53.75).
Because of the economy, pro
ducers will see a better year than
last year. With the inflation and
food prices low, the economy
should continue on a slow growth
pattern in 1995, according to the
Producer Panels
Pork producers can weather the
ups and downs of market prices if
their operation is under contract
and producers strive to be more
productive, according to pork pro
ducers on a special production
contract panel at the Keystone
Pork Congress.
Panelists Jerry Hostetler, Swa
tara Swine, Denver and Alvin
Shaffer, Dalmatia, both agreed,
however, that a contract helps the
producer get “on his feet,” while
offering protection, economically
Krista Byers, 18, daughter
of Edgar and Linda Byers,
Millerstowp, was honored as
Outstanding FFA member at
the Keystone Pork Congress.
at least, from a fickle market But
both said they depend on people—
the heart of any business.
“People are the reason that these
units work,” said Hostetler. “Peo
ple are everything. If you don’t
have quality, smart people, you
can't even begin to work on pro
duction costs.”
But the key to profitability,
according to Hostetler, is controll
ing costs. He said feed is about 60
percent of total production costs.
Producers should lock in on com
and soybean meal market price as
far in advance as possible to main
tain profitability.
Shaffer, who operates a
700-sow farrow-to-feeder opera
tion in Northumberland County,
said the farm wanted to expand*
but they didn’t want to worry
“what would happen if individual
pig prices went to 36 cents, and
whether we would make enough
money even to pay the interest,” he
said, on what was borrowed. They
decided to contract. “With our
contract, we no longer need to
worry about feed, purchasing sup
plies, or transporting hogs to mark
et all are included in the con
tract.” This helps remove the wor
ry about market fluctuations.
More and more contracting is
taking place, according to the pro
ducers, because of the risks
involved in getting started or
expanding.
Another panel, composed of
herd representatives, examined
some pointers used in running a
more efficient operation in order to
meet packer needs. That panel was
comprised of Robert Mtkesell,
White Oak Mills, Elizabethtown,
and Dave Heckel, Farm Crest
Feeds, Lititz.
Also at the Congress, Dr. David
J. Meismger, chief operating offic
er, Fetterman Farms Limited, Par-
is. 111., spoke about lessons learned
from a Midwest packer about
bringing the best carcass to
slaughter.
Youth Contests
For the first time in its eight
year history, the Keystone Pork
Bowl was won by an FFA chapter.
Mifflinburg FFA members Matt
Christ, Lucas Criswell, Daryl
Ebcrsole, and Derrick Moyer
clinched first place after beating
the second-pl&ce Berks County
team 125-110. Coach of the team,
which placed third in last year’s
competition, is Dave Woodling,
The competition was ncck-and
neck until the last question. The
Berks County learn is composed of
Richard W. Kerper, Jr., Leon
Hunter, Pat Hunter (coach), Tim
Eschbach, and Jason Manbeck.
Third place went to Lebanon
County, with members Jason
Shirk, Jon Hamish, Wendy Atkins,
and Katie Lefever.
In the youth public speaking
contest, 13 participated. All the
winners were from Indiana
County.
Mifflin Holstein Club Holds Annual Meeting
ALLENSVILLE (Mifflin Co.)
BST. Bovine somatotropin. It’s
something every dairy farmer
needs to make up their own mind
about.
That was the beginning state
ment and ending conclusion veter
inarians Dr. Anthony Potorti and
Dr. Bob Guttross made to mem
bers of the Mifflin County Hols
tein Club at their annual dinner
meeting held Thursday, January
25 at the Country Village Restaur
ant in Allensville.
Slick roads prevented Dairy
Farm Nutritional and Manage
ment Consultant and featured
speaker Tim Kissling from attend
ing the meeting. Dr. Potorti and
Guttross, from the Big Valley
Animal Hospital near Reedsville,
stepped in with timely, simple, in
a-nutshell facts on BST how it
works, how and when to use it, the
benefits of BST usage and its pos
sible side effects.
“It is an effective drug,” com
ments Dr. Guttross who helped
with research trials on a similar
drug at the University of Vermont
But both agreed on the same bene
fits and drawbacks from BST
usage.
“We (as veterinarians) don’t
gain anything from this,” Potorti
commented, adding that farmers
order the product directly from
Monsanto. It is not a prescription.
“In fact it will increase problems
for us because of the increase inci
dence of twins.”
How BST works
The level of this hormone
occurring naturally is higher in a
higher producing cow, thus the
basis for research and desire to use
the drug form.
It increases the blood flow
to the udder. With more blood
flow, there’s more milk.
It may increase the number
of actual glands that produce milk.
It increases glucose pro
duced by the liver.
—lt conserves nitrogen, a
building block of protein.
How to use BST
BST costs $6.60 per dose,
direct from Monsanto. Potorti said
you can call Federal Express and
they show up the next day with
your delivery.
BST comes in a 16-gauge
needle and is to be injected under
the skin (at base of tail) every six
weeks starting from nine weeks
after fresh until dryoff. Potorti
says there are no benefits from
starting sooner. Feed will increase
after three to four weeks and the
maximum benefits will not be
In the 8-11 age group, first place
went to Nathan Zack. Nathan, 11,
is the son of Laurie and John Zack,
Blairsville. According to Nathan,
he bested the championship
because of his experience in speak
ing to ISO members of the 6th
grade at United Elementary
School. Nathan, a member of the
Gordon 4-H Livestock Club,
spoke about humor in the pigpen.
Nathan's sister, Lisa, 14, won
the 12-15 year old category. Lisa
attends United Junior/Senior High
School. She placed the year before
in the competition. She spoke
about animal welfare/animal
rights, she said, presenting the
humorous side. Lisa said she feels
confident before a crowd. She is
also a member of the Gordon 4-H
Livestock Club.
Beth Elkin, 18, won in the senior
category. Beth is the daughter of
Sam and Paula Elkin, Marion Cen
ter, and is in her first year in ag
engineering at Penn State. She
served as senior class president
and believes she capped the award,
with her speach about animal
welfare/animal rights, from the
seen until a month after.
BST is not to be injected
into the muscle.
Genetics is not a big factor.
It works the same for registered
cows, grade, high producers, or
low producers.
It is not recommended for
cows who will calve bulls for
breeding. Not enough is known
about the resulting effects on the
bull’s fertility.
Side effects good and bad
Using BST causes about a
15% feed consumption increase.
BST usage is said to
increase milk production from
5-15 pounds of milk per cow.
It does affect breeding.
“About the time you’re ready to
breed her back, you start BST,”
Potorti said. Starting BST causes a
decrease in energy until the cow
gets that extra food needed caused
by BST usage. Guttross added,
“Nine weeks is about the point
where a cow needs to pul body
weight back on. If you start to use
this, their body weight drops back.
There is a definite lag there with
good energy. You’re going to
have to try to gel your cows to
eat.”
BST increases the number
of days a cow is open, but doesn’t
seem to affect the number of ser
vices per cow.
Guttross noted few injection
site reactions during the research,
little increase in diarrhea, and little
incidences of cows going off feed
or bloating. Potorti said to read the
warning lebel on the product but
also said 1 that it isn’t as bad as it
sounds.
There is an increase inci
dence of twins.
There is an increase inci
dence of mastitis due to the
increased level of production.
Generally, mastitis is greater in
high producers as compared to
low producers.
This product was banned in >
experience in high school and in
speaking to 4-H groups.
Judges for the public speaking
contest were Fred Dillner, retired
ag teacher from Shippcnsburg and
Millicent Rinehart, Rinehart’s
Orchards, Lcwisbcrry.
At the banquet, three were hon
ored for contributions to the stale’s
pork industry.
Virgil E. Gutshall, Jr., Beaver
Ridge Farm, Blain, was honored as
Pork All-American. He is herd
manager for a 300-sow fam>w-to
finish operation on 223 acres.
Outstanding 4-H member went
to Charles Wolfe 111, IS, son of
Charles Jr. and Lucille Wolfe,
Grindstone. The Brownsville
Senior High School 11th grader
has been a 4-H member for nine
years. He plans to attend college
and major in veterinary medicine.
Krista Byers, Greenwood FFA,
was named Outstanding FFA
member. Krista, 18, is the daughter
of Edgar and Linda Byers, Miller
stown. The Greenwood FFA mem
ber, who served as chapter presi
dent, is in her first year in ag educa
tion at Penn State.
Paul Near
Vermont. Wisconsin banned it
from their research years ago.
Monsanto figures farmers
can make $67 per cow per year
before taxes.
In-a-nutshell, both Potorti
and Guttross felt each dairy far
mer should weigh both the good
and the bad. One suggestion men
tioned was using BST on a partial
herd basis, turning borderline pro
ducers into high producers.
In other banquet news, Paul
Neer, Lowell Peachey, and Lee D.
Yoder were elected as board of
directors for three-year terms.
Distinguished Service Award
went to Kore J. Peachey from Mil
roy. He received a silver engraved
tray for his contributions to the
club.
Darren Peachey received the
club’s high pounds of protein
award - 823 lbs. Russell Kline
earned the breed age average
(BAA) award - 106.9.
Darv Yoder gave the Junior
member report. He said several
kids attended the Junior Conven
tion this year, attended judging
school at Penn State, and many
participated in the youth fair. Mif
flin County also hosted the Dis
trict 4-H Dairy Show. Yoder also
thanked those who purchased
cheese during their sale saying it is
their major source of funding for
junior member activities.
Dave Spicher thanked the show
committee for their help at the
Youth and Open shows during the
Mifflin County Youth Fair.
Extension Director Dave Filson
announced several MAP (Man
agement and Productivity) dairy
meetings scheduled for Mifflin,
Juniata, and Perry counties. They
will be held two consecutive
Tuesdays from 9-3 at the Mifflin
County Courthouse. They arc pat
terned after Cornell’s successful
program and management and
profitability. The meetings will
center on running a dairy opera
tion like a business.