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July 2005 Issue
Just some thoughts
by Ralph Doak
Each year we are all asked to jot down a few of our thoughts or concerns that have come up over the past year.
Yes, I am just as bad as you.
When I don’t have a major flag to wave or a big gripe or concern, I have the tendency to be one of the world’s greatest procrastinators.
I know that throughout the past year, the hog business has been really good for those who make a living, or at least part of their living, raising them.
More people have called for ideas of where to buy gilts or bred sows. I have even had a few calls from people who are making plans to raise a few hogs for some local demand, where there is no one to fill the need anymore.
With each sale of breeding stock I see a few more breeders taking advantage of the opportunity to buy a boar that they may take home to sample. He just might be the one that a person would build a sow herd around for the future. It appears that some read Sam Howell’s editorial one year ago.
Breeders are also sampling different pedigrees that are available in the boar studs. With so many great boars available, it can be a tough decision on which ones will work the best.
Another encouraging happening is taking place. More prospect pig producers are deciding the percentage of top-quality pigs is much greater if a purebred gilt or sow is used to make these great crossbred sows. Therefore, many are looking to mate them to Hampshire and Yorkshire boars.
With this type of thinking by producers, the sky is the limit on the accomplishments to be made.
A positive approach and positive thinking can also play a big part in the accomplishments of our organization and our membership.
Don’t look for the downside of an event. Look at the upside.
I was told by a breeder that the NSR Weanling Pig Extravaganza was in trouble because of the lack of entries that showed up. I was quick to inform this breeder that the exhibitors were just getting smarter and did not bring the plain animals.
After the sale, with 276 head averaging $716, I am sure that my view was correct. Pig sales that I worked averaged more than ever before. That makes me smile.
It is now time for the Summer Type Conference, the National Junior Summer Spectacular and the state fairs.
There is no other time when as many people with a common goal are on the edge of their seats to watch news in the making, as they concentrate on the shows and sales at these events.
I hope that through the summer and fall you all have excellent experiences at the events where you participate.
I know you work hard, and you deserve the best.
It takes diligence and effort prior to these shows for you to bring out the genetic capabilities in your animal.
It is wonderful to go to work each day, working with people that have the goal of selling to their customers the best product that they can produce, so the customers may be successful in their endeavors. We will all work toward these goals and will succeed in breeding better hogs for today and tomorrow.
Take good care of all those pigs, and I’ll see you at the hog shows this summer.
