C4-Lancastef Farming, Saturday/ Hatch 7, 1998 UNIVERSITY PARK, (Cent re Co.) - The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Meat Animal Evaluation Center wishes to announce the 84-day results of the Bull Performance Testing Program. Seventy-three outstanding bulls are on test this year. The group consists of 32 Angus, 22 Polled Herefords, 15 Simmentals, two Charolais, and two Limousin. The 32 Angus (including two Red Angus), maintained a group average daily gain of 3.98 pounds per day through 84 days with a life time weight per day of age of 3.31 pounds. The top-gaining Angus bull is the DHD Traveler 6807 son owned by Marlin and Steve Paul. The 5.01 pounds per day this bull recorded through 84 days is the top gain overall breeds. The second fastest gaining Angus is the EHF Fortune 3060 son of Erßer Hills Farms, who gained 4.76 pounds per day. Dairy Of Distinction Program Again Seeks Nice Looking Farms STATE COLLEGE (Centre Co.) - Do you take pride in main taining your daily farm? Does your dairy farm project an attrac tive, wholesome image to con sumers? If so, the Dairy of Dis tinction Program of Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, will consider your farm for the pro gram’s annual recognition awards. The Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program that over sees the Distinction program was first started in 1983 in Pennsylva i Dairy of Distinction 'i 1998 Pennsylvania Application | j PURPOSE OF PROGRAM ..Attractive dairy fanns give the consumer greater confidence in die whoieaomeness of milk aid I I j stimulate milk sales which encourages pubhc support for the dairy industry The award gives I I recognition lo the dairy farmer for maintaining a wad-kept farmstead . | ELIGIBILITY I AO Northeast dairy farms producing milk for sale are invited to submit an application for the a wad. I ! Dames receiving the 10 highest scares m each of the 21 districts will recave an 18" x 24" Drily af j * Distinction sign to be displayed i from of their ism. i )| YoorNi J Mating • Phono Number. Il Cooperative or Handler (where you ship your Balk) |i (Year Handler will be onatacwd to mauve year nmlk quality) I Location (driving dtrecnoni for judging teem) firm is ll I hereby apply to the Northeast Datty Fatm Beautification Commute* to have my daily scared ml I! accordance with the rules of Iha proanm for the ptapote of obtammj a Duty of Distinction sign to be) J displayed on my promnea (No producer will be charged fersconnt or apt expanse.) I i| SiasaoueofOwnextOpomor 1 Return your application by April 15. Send to: • PENNSYLVANIA, Michael O’Conner, 324 Henning Building, Dept of Dairy and Animal Science, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802. • NEW YORK STATE, Carol Keene, RDI, Box 31, Gilbertsville, NY 13776. • NEW JERSEY, August Knispel, 641 Sidney Road, Pittstown, NJ13077. Meat Eval. The top-gaining Polled Hereford bull is the KWR Sharpshooter son consigned by Dan Dye. This bull gained 4.77 pounds per day. The second fastest gaining Polled Hereford, the HFSD Fast Forward son owned by Frank Granbery 111, gained 4.71 pounds per day through the 84 days. The 22 Polled Hereford bulls achieved an average daily gain of 3.93 pounds per day and a lifetime weight per day of age of 3.33 pounds. The 15 Simmentals on test gained an average of 3.87 pounds per day and maintained a lifetime weight per day of age of 3.49 pounds. The top gaining Simmental bull is the Red Light 406 D son owned by Penn State University. The second-fastest gaining Simmental was the full blood bull consigned by Harold Simms. This Loki son gained 4.80 pounds per day on test. The top-gaining Limousin bull is the Wulfs Quarterback son which gained 4.35 pounds nia to recognize the hard work and dedication of the farmers who maintain attractive farms. The purpose of the program is to in still a greater sense of confidence in the wholesomeness of dairy products, and increase their sales. Farms that apply are judged on the roadside appearance of build ings, grounds, and surroundings, since this is what our dairy prod uct consumers observe as they drive by the farm. I APPLICATION Farm N<nu Center Announces Results per day and was consigned by Corle Land and Cattle Co. The top-gaining Charolais, consigned by Raymond Bratton, gained 4.07 pounds per day on test and is a son of BCF New Trend 992. The bulls will all be weighed off test March 3. They will then have their final average daily gain, adjusted 365-day weight, frame score and adjusted fat thickness calculated. The bulls will be scanned ultrasonically to determine fat thickness and estimated loin eye areas. The bulls will undergo a comprehen sive breeding soundness exam, including collections and a semen evaluation. The bulls must meet mini mum requirements for structur al soundness and breed charac ter. After all of the evaluations, approximately the top 75 per cent of the bulls will be selected to be offered in Pennsylvania's 25th Annual Performance Tested Bull Sale scheduled for 11 a.m., Friday, March 27. The The cleanliness of the barnyard, feed areas, and manure manage ment are all areas taken into con sideration when a team of judges takes a look at your farm from a roadside point of view. Judging is conducted during the month of May. Award winners are an nounced during your local June Dairy Month activities. To qualify for consideration, you must be actively dairy farm ing and shipping milk. Applications are available for Pennsylvania dairy farms from Michael O’Conner, 324 Henning Building, Dept, of Dairy and Animal Science, Penn State Uni versity, University Park, PA 16802. Phone: (814) 863-3913. For New York State applica tions are available from Carol Keene, RD 1, Box 31, Gil bertsville, NY 13776. Phone: (607) 783-2169. For New Jersey applications, send to: August Knispel, 641 Sidney Road, Pittstown, NJ 08867. Phone: (908) 735-4989. All applications must be com pleted and relumed to your state secretary by Wednesday, April 15, 1998. . Hie Dairy of Distinction pro gram is financed in Pennsylvania by Dairy Farmers through the American Dairy Association Dairy Council and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program in coopera tion with many local agribusiness organizations. The program is conducted with advice and help from Penn State Cooperative Ex tension. bull sale is planned as a central part of Pennsylvania's 9th Annual Beef Expo, which runs March 26 through March 29 at Penn State's Ag Arena. For more information about the bulls on test, the Ag Engineering Conference ERIE (Erie Co.) - An Ag Engineering Conference is scheduled for March 24 at the Mercer County Cooperative Extension office in Mercer. The program will be repeated March 25 at the Northwest Rural Electric Association Building in Cambridge Springs. This program will address engineering topics related to dairy and animal production, and run from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Topics will include treat ment facilities in freestall/parlor operations, tiestall improve ments, dry cow and pre/post fresh housing, lowering capital ♦ Dairy Aft of H Distinction HOW IS YOUR FARM SCORED? Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program, Inc. Awards will be based upon neatness, good maintenance and other factors which can be controlled by the farmer. Attractive background scenery should not be weighed heavily in judging. All judging obser vations should be made from a vehicle at one or more points on an adjacent public highway (or if farm is off the road, the nearest lane) Judging should give equal consideration to old wood construction and new construction of metal or concrete block. The award program may be used for subsequent advertising or promotion activities for dairy p.cducls or dairy farming. Farmers who apply for awards agree that; if selected they will cooperate with these activities and make all reasonable efforts to maintain both the exterior and interior of their propeities in an acceptable condition. HOW THE APPLICATION WORKS The owner or operator of the dairy farm should sign the applica tion and send ii to NEDFBP secretary by April 15. HOW THE JUDGING WORKS Judging teams will visit farms during the month of May. Farms will be judged each year as the award is presented on an annual basis Any dairy failing to maintain appearance standards will be asked to remove their sign. The Dairy of Distinction signs remain the proper ty of the committee, not the property of the dairy farmer. All farms must achieve a compliance score of 90 percent on their Dairy of Distinction score card. Your cooperative or milk handler will be con tacted to approve your milk quality. RULES FOR THE DAIRY OF DISTINCTION AWARD The Dairy of Distinction sign remains the property of the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Committee. The post and bracket shall be supplied by and maintained by the dairy fanner. It is suggested that a wood post 4’ x4’ x 12’ or iron pipe 2’ x 12’ be used. Posts or pipe should be installed and main tained in true vertical position with 8' above ground. Top of the bracket shou' i be lower than six inches from the top of the post Sign shall b. displayed in front of the dairy at roadside. An attractive post and bracket, or other frame, shall be used to dis play the sign. No more than three signs should be displayed from the sign frame or post, and all shall be of a style, general size and quality comparable to the Dairy of Distinction sign. Sign should be secured on all sides to avoid wind damage. Signs shall not be moved to other premises. New owners of a Dairy of Distinction farm must apply to retain the sign. Replacement of damaged signs shall be the discretion of the committee. No producer shall be charged with scoring or sign expense. Judges' decisions will be final. Judging will take place between May Ist and May 31st. Farms awarded a Dairy of Distinction sign in previous years will be judged between April Ist and April 30th If they do not qual ify, they will be rejudged between May Ist and May 31st so they have the opportunity to keep the sign. Farms that do not requalify will return the sign to their regional Dairy of Distinction Committee. Pennsylvania Beef Expo, or to request bull sale catalogs, con tact Glenn Eberly, Director, Meat Animal Evaluation Center, 651 Fox Hollow Rd., State College, PA 16803, (814)238- 2527 or (814)865-5857 message and/or FAX. costs, and manure handling and management beyond the barn. Speakers include Dr. Richard Stowell, food agricultural and biological engineering, Ohio State University; Dr. Robert Graves, agricultural and biologi cal engineering, Penn State; and John Tyson, agricultural engi neering, Erie County Cooperative Extension. Cost of the conference is $lO for lunch and registrations must be received by March 18. For additional information or regis tration information, contact John Tyson at the Erie County Cooperative Extension Office, at (814)825-0900.
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