CommunicationsSeedstock EDGE | “For the Record” | “The Pinnacle” | |
“The Pinnacle” Archives
The newsletter of the National Junior Swine Association
Spring 2002 Highlights
ARTICLES
10 Tips for Successful Artificial Insemination
by Jake Grass
Breed Eligibility Rules
by Bryan Rodibaugh
What Am I Bid?
by Brad Coffman
It Could Be You Someday
by Jim McCoy
Keith Lambright: A Man with Integrity
by Terrell Buck
Oral Reasons
by Jennifer Shike
10 Tips for Successful Artificial Insemination
by Jake Grass
1. The female to be inseminated needs to be in sound breeding condition, accurately displaying signs of heat with an estrus cycle of approximately 20-21 days.
2. In order to know when to breed, detection of females in heat is a necessity. A gilt or sow is in heat when she stands rigid to back pressure and exhibits erect ears. Females should be checked twice daily to know initial time of standing heat.
3. The semen should be stored in a cool, dry place kept at 64 degrees Fahrenheit. To insure maximum fertility, the semen should be rotated twice daily to mix the sperm with the extender.
4. For conception to occur, insemination must take place at an optimum time. The most effective time to inseminate the female is 10-12 hours prior to ovulation to insure the sperm has arrived to fertilize the eggs upon release. The time frame to inseminate gilts is 12 and 24 hours after first standing, whereas sows should be inseminated 24 and 36 hours after first standing.
5. When inseminating, begin by bringing the female into contact with the boar and apply back pressure.
6. Clean the vulva with a cloth to prevent contamination.
7. Lubricate the breeding rod with non-spermicidal jelly. Slowly insert the breeding rod into the vulva at an upward angle to avoid entrance to the bladder. The breeding rod will easily slide through the vagina until it reaches the cervix.
8. Entrance through the cervix is obtained differently depending on the breeding rod used. A spiral breeding rod is entered through turning the rod counterclockwise (three to four revolutions) until locked into place. If a foam-tip breeding rod is used, work the rod gently left to right through the first fold of the cervix.
9. Once the breeding rod is in place, cut the tip off of the bottle of semen and securely attach to the breeding rod, holding the bottle in an upright position. Gently squeeze the bottle with a constant, even pressure. Do not force the semen as this may result in backflow. Be patient and relaxed. If substantial backflow occurs, reposition the breeding rod and continue with even pressure.
10. Finally, remove the breeding rod by slowly turning it clockwise and pulling outward.
<top>
Breed Eligibility Rules
by Bryan Rodibaugh
Educate yourself by knowing the breed eligibility rules as stated in the NJSA Shows Handbook. Don't forget that all pigs must be earnotched within seven days of their date of birth.
Duroc
• cannot have white feet or white spots on any part of the body with exception of the end of the nose
• no more than three black spots, none over two inches on diameter on the body
• must have a 6-6 functional underline
• cannot have an extra dewclaw
Hampshire
• color markings must be black with a white belt encircling the body including both legs and feet
• gilts must have a 6-6 underline
• breeding animals to be eligible to record must meet the following guidelines:
• white belt encircling the body including the front legs, both the legs and feet
• white can be present on the snout but cannot break the rim of the nose
• white on the lower lip cannot be more than a quarter in size
• white on the hind legs cannot extend above the hock
• cannot have any red color on any part of the body or its littermates
• cannot have a swirl upon the upper half of the body or neck
• cannot have an extra dewclaw
Landrace
• cannot have any hair other than white on any part of the body
• cannot have upright ears
• must have a 6-6 functional underline and no inverted teats
• cannot have evidence of an extra dewclaw
• cannot have large black spots or numerous black spots on any part of the hog
• however a small amount of black pigment is allowed
Yorkshire
• must have a 6-6 functional underline
• cannot have any hair other than white on any part of the body
• cannot have large black spots or numerous black spots on any part of the hog
• however a small amount of black pigmentation is allowed
• cannot have evidence of an extra dewclaw
If you have any questions about breed eligibility, call Mike Paul, NSR vice president of operations, at the National Swine Registry at (765) 463-3594, or e-mail him at mike@nationalswine.com.
<top>
What Am I Bid?
by Brad Coffman
Whenever you attend a show pig sale or a national type conference sponsored by the National Swine Registry, you will find a variety of people looking to show and/or buy pigs. Most of the time when you attend these sales you will see a trio of men with very important jobs. As you might guess these important men are Kevin Wendt, Dan Baker, and Howard Parrish, some of the best and more widely known auctioneers in the purebred swine industry. These three men undertake the task of being a salesman on a pig for sometimes less than a minute. They have to be fast communicators to interested buyers and encourage other people that were originally not interested in the pig to become a bidder in the effort of selling the pigs. An auctioneer’s goal is to find a buyer for every animal while getting top dollar for each.
Kevin Wendt
Kevin Wendt may be one of the more recognizable auctioneers to younger kids or to people that are fairly new to the industry, simply because he auctioneers many of the show pig sales throughout the Midwest and Southwest.
Kevin became interested in auctioneering after his father took him to a bred gilt sale in Bloomville, Ohio, where he heard Merlin Woodruff auction. Kevin knew from that moment on that he wanted to be an auctioneer. He told his dad about his passion on their way back home. Kevin went to auction school at Reppert’s School of Auctioneering in Auburn, Ind., at the age of 17. Kevin then apprenticed with Rick Fogle in order to get his foot in the door of the world of auctioneering.
One of Kevin’s more memorable moments of auctioneering occurred in 1992 when Rick Maloney, former breed secretary, asked him to auctioneer the gilts at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa.
Kevin says if you desire to become an auctioneer, don’t be afraid to start young and get involved in NJSA, FFA or 4-H. And, when possible, apply for a leadership position within those organizations or clubs. Kevin also mentioned that he believes the NJSA speech contest, along with being a member of a judging team, are other ways of becoming a good speaker in front of large groups. Kevin encourages those that are interested in auctioneering to be positive, get involved in youth activities, and learn from other auctioneers.
Dan Baker
When Dan Baker was 10 years old, a neighbor called him up and asked if he would like to go to a farm auction. Dan remembers there was something about the whole ordeal that fascinated him about auctioneering on that cold January day. That same neighbor later took Dan to a purebred Duroc sale, near Upper Sandusky, Ohio. At that sale, Dan saw a ringman by the name of Paul Parrish, who put a lot of excitement into the sale and made Dan more interested in auctions. After that auction, Dan went to any type of auction, whether it was livestock, household or farm sales, just to be part of the atmosphere of the auction. Another person that has influenced Dan as an auctioneer is Merlin Woodruff, an auctioneer who Dan considers to be his idol.
At the age of 18, between his junior and senior year of high school, Dan attended the Reppert’s School of Auctioneering, where he now teaches. This August will be Dan’s 40th year of auctioneering.
Dan says the sale of the record-selling Champion Yorkshire Boar at the 2000 Fall Classic for $125,000 and the record-selling Champion Yorkshire Boar at the 2001 Summer Type Conference for $220,000 were very exciting events in his life. Just as exciting is watching a young 4-Her bidding on his project pig, Dan adds.
A more touching, memorable moment occurred when he was auctioneering a sale for a financially troubled farmer who couldn't afford to make a farm payment. Dan says it was hard to see the tears in their eyes as the farmer and his family watched what they had worked for throughout their lives being sold.
Dan says for those interested in becoming an auctioneer, it is important to be diverse in what you sell, simply because it is hard to be a full-time auctioneer selling purebred hogs and show pigs. Education is important and Dan encourages those that are interested in auctioneering to attend a reputable auction school.
Dan was just recently awarded the 2001 Hoosier Bid Calling Champion. He is also a member of the Indiana Auctioneer Hall of Fame.
Howard Parrish
When attending a sale where Howard Parrish is auctioneering, you are in for a real exciting time. A person can see Howard's passion for purebred swine when he is auctioneering. There is probably no other person who cares more about the Duroc breed than "HP".
Howard’s father, Paul Parrish, was a major influence in Howard's decision to become an auctioneer. Howard also attended Reppert’s School of Auctioneering, where he now teaches as well.
Some of Howard’s most memorable moments have been the Duroc sales at the National Barrow Show. It is hard for Howard to pick one or a few moments because there have been so many great ones throughout his career, he says.
Howard has been auctioneering at hog sales since 1961, and has auctioneered for the United Duroc Registry and the National Swine Registry since 1966. Howard has also been auctioneering the Landrace sales at NSR sponsored shows for many years now. Currently, Howard auctioneers about 175 sales each year and is seen at many show pig sales throughout the country.
Howard says that in order for anyone to become an auctioneer, they must be challenged to do it. They need to take advantage when an opportunity arises where they can help out at a sale. If interested, he encourages them to come up with their own style of auctioneering. Then, they will be more relaxed and there is no pressure to be like anyone else. Howard says that it is important is to be clear when auctioneering so the buyers are able to understand what the auctioneer is saying.
Many of us take for granted how important these three men are to the purebred swine industry, and the fine job that they do at hog sales across America. We, as NJSA members, are lucky to have these men as supporters of our organization. So the next time you see these guys at an auction, introduce yourself to them if they don’t know who you are, and thank them for the great work they do in making so many sales successful and fun events.
<top>
It Could Be You Someday
by Jim McCoy
When you go to a local hog show, state fair or a national type conference and take your seat in the bleacher or get behind the whip to drive a hog into the ring, have you ever thought about the person standing in the ring? Have you ever considered what it is like to serve as that judge who will rank the winners in the champion drive? Did you ever wonder how that person got the opportunity to serve in that way?
Many times when I was growing up, I considered that job to be unattainable and something I would never get to experience. But I’ve learned this goal is an attainable goal through general livestock judging programs at all youth levels, and by the added opportunities offered by NJSA.
When you are selected to serve as a judge, you are chosen to offer your opinion from your own priorities, convictions and principles. One thing that is certain is that there is no perfect hog. So you must analyze each animal individually and then against the others within the class to determine its ranking.
It is easy to stand around ringside and find fault or criticize what a judge may do, but I guarantee you it looks altogether different when you step across that fence and grab hold of the microphone yourself. If you don’t believe me, try it for yourself.
Judging hog shows has provided some of the neatest experiences and memories I’ve had in this business, especially the youth shows. Meeting great kids and their families and visiting about livestock and exchanging ideas make judging worthwhile.
I feel doubly blessed to be able to experience an even more special event in judging that only a few have been able to do – judging in the same ring with my son, Mike. Dr. Bob Hines and his son, Brian, Earl Cain and his son, Lee, Bruce Engnell and his son, Ty, and a few others have been able to experience this as well. There is a real sense of pride and satisfaction in having your son follow in your footsteps. It’s real interesting when the hogs walk into the ring, and you begin to visit with your child about what each hog has to offer. Then, a grin comes across both of our faces because we are seeing the hogs alike. Sure, there are a few times where we differ on and discuss each others’ opinions and come to the best logical compromise. It’s beneficial to have two opinions like this – one that is more experienced and one that is more youthful.
Father and son working relationships are not always easy and ours is no different. However, if you can honestly respect each others’ individual way of thinking and come down to what’s really important in the end, there is nothing more satisfying. Working side by side in a family-run operation doing something we both love has been one of the highlights of my relationship with my son. We have enjoyed the opportunity to build and evaluate good hogs together and work with young people and families that share that very same passion.
So, the next time you go to a hog show and listen to the judge’s reasons, just think that may be you standing in the same position someday. And, if you are really lucky, you may get to do that with your parent or child.
Keep working hard. You never know what might happen.
Jim McCoy and his wife, Tammy, live in Bloomingburg, Ohio. Jim has been raising Hampshire hogs since he was in high school. He and his family continue to run a full-time seedstock operation that is focusing on show pig production. Seven years ago, the McCoys started up their own boar stud called Real McCoy Genetics Boar Stud. They have 50 boars in their stud and have sold semen into 40 states.
Jim’s wife, Tammy is a school bus driver for their local school district. Jim and Tammy have three children. Mike, 24, is working at home with his father running the breeding herd operation. Mike also judges shows throughout the year. He attended Black Hawk College East Campus and Western Illinois University. Melissa, 22, is a senior at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She is majoring in rehabilitation counseling. Her goal is to work with deaf children someday. Their youngest daughter, Melanie, 20, is a sophomore at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa. She is majoring in elementary education and is a member of the volleyball team.
Jim has judged in 15 states throughout the past 21 years. Some of the shows he has judged include the Fort Worth Stock Show, the Indiana State Fair, and the Southwest Hampshire Type Conference. As well, he has judged numerous national type conferences, state fairs and county fairs. Jim says the county shows are just as meaningful for him to judge as the bigger shows. Jim says, “Visiting with people from different areas of the country is one of the best parts of judging.”
<top>
Keith Lambright - A Breeder with Integrity
by Terrell Buck
At the 1994 World Pork Expo, a new name was added to the list of influential players in the purebred industry. During the exciting Yorkshire sale, this new purebred swine enthusiast purchased Dave Walter’s Grand Champion Yorkshire Boar, Expo ’94, for an amazing $18,000. When Keith Lambright makes an entrance, he makes an entrance!
Expo ’94, did more for the purebred industry than contribute quality genetics, Expo ‘94 brought with him one of the greatest livestock people around. Keith Lambright, Shipshewana, Ind., may have been new to the purebred swine industry, but he was well known in other areas of agriculture at the time. He had shown lambs and steers in 4-H for 10 years. After his show days were over, he moved on to bigger and better things like marrying his wife, Doreen, in 1977.
His three children, Stacy, Jenny and Brian, were the reason Keith began raising pigs. When they asked to show pigs, as well as lambs and steers, he decided that he would raise their show pigs. In 1995, J&K Genetics produced their first pig crop and the Lambright kids began showing. All three children where very competitive, not only in their county, but at the Indiana State Fair as well. One of Keith’s greatest memories related to the swine industry took place at the 1996 Indiana State Fair, when Jenny won Grand Champion Barrow with a home-raised pig.
Throughout the past few years J&K has proved to be very successful with both show barrows and breeding stock. J&K Genetics has produced winners ranging from Grand Champion at the 1998 American Royal to Grand Champion at the 2000 Indiana State Fair. In the breeding stock ring, J&K has exhibited the Champion Hampshire Gilt at the NBS as well as the 1997 Yorkshire Hog College gilt selling for a remarkable $7,000.
However, the most rewarding sale in the breeding stock ring occurred this past year at the Summer Type Conference when J&K’s Reserve Champion Yorkshire Boar sold for $75,000. Top Cut later named the high-selling boar “Point Given.” Today, J&K Genetics consists of approximately 100 Yorkshire, Hampshire, and crossbred sows used mainly for show pig production. J&K also owns 20 boars placed in two major boar studs - Hi Point Swine Genetics and D&L Custom Collection.
Hi Point Genetics owner Brent Bolen said, “My relationship with Keith began strictly as business. However, it has grown into a great friendship because Keith is a fair, reliable man. He has had a large impact on Hi Point Genetics because he gave me the confidence to purchase big-money boars.”
In addition to raising pigs and farming, Lambright has many different business investments. He owns part of the local stockyards that sells approximately 1,500 head of cattle and 250 head of horses each week. He has partial ownership of one of the largest flea markets consisting of 1,200 vendors. A few years ago he opened the Farmstead Inn, which has 85 rooms. He also has a business investment in an Antique Gallery, and he recently began a purebred Angus herd by purchasing 125 head of cows. And you thought you were busy?
Darrell Anderson, chief executive officer of the National Swine Registry, said, “Keith is well respected not only in his community, but in the entire swine industry, because of his work ethic and the high degree of integrity he brings to everything with which he is associated. He is also one of the best when it comes to giving support back to the youth of the swine industry. In the planning period of the first National Junior Summer Spectacular, Keith was the first person to come to me and state that he wanted to be a sponsor and supporter for the National Junior Swine Association.”
As you can see, Lambright has been very successful, not only in the swine industry, but in many different business situations. When asked to share words of wisdom, Lambright said, “The two things that will get you further in life than anything is to be honest and hardworking.”
Dave Walter, owner of D&L Custom Collection, said, “Keith has always treated us with great dignity and honesty, no matter what the situation.”
Who knows, you might make an entrance like that someday! But remember, most people have to start at the bottom and work their way up. Just as someone once told me, “The elevator to success is broken; so we must take the stairs, one step at a time.”
<top>
Oral Reasons
by Jennifer Shike
Believe me. I've been in your shoes. I know how it feels to have hundreds of butterflies dancing around in my stomach. I know the fear that squeezes your heart before you walk into the reasons room. I also know there is nothing more satisfying than beating that fear by opening the door and walking into the room.
I was 9 years old when I gave my first set of oral reasons at the Washington County Fair Livestock Judging Contest. I was so nervous and excited to give that first set. But, I must admit that I felt the same way when I gave my last set of oral reasons at Louisville as a 20-year-old. In my opinion, that feeling is the best part of judging livestock. When that feeling goes away, you either aren't working hard enough or your passion for judging has fizzled out.
My passion for oral reasons has always been obvious to those around me. I think oral reasons are important not only because they teach you many things about yourself, but more importantly, they give you an advantage during a judging contest. When you walk into the reasons room, you start out with the same score as everyone else. It's up to you to decide what you are going to say to convince the judge that your placing is correct (or at least logical from your perspective)!
Where else in life do you get a chance like that? Can you imagine what it would be like to stop the basketball game with one minute left to tell the crowd why you chose to shoot the three and missed? I never had the opportunity to tell my teachers why my math answers were justifiable (in some other country).
Oral reasons provide a grounds for many life lessons that can't be learned by placing a class and turning in a card. Oral reasons teach you how to make a smart, educated decision in a short amount of time. You learn how to justify your actions. You discover what it means to find self-confidence from within. You find out more than you ever dreamed you would about livestock - structure, movement, design, balance, muscle, and the list goes on. You figure out how to set goals for yourself and work hard to achieve them. When it comes to giving oral reasons, you can always improve. You can always give a better set - and that is the most exciting part!
So, where do you begin? Oral reasons are a short (two minutes or less) presentation where you explain to an official why you placed a class the way you did. This defense of your decision should be presented in an organized format. Many formats may be used to give oral reasons. If you are on a judging team, ask your coach what format he/she prefers. If you are not on a team, you can try the format I've outlined below that is widely used by high school 4-H and FFA teams, junior college teams and senior college teams. Keep in mind that the format is not as important as the accuracy of your reasons. Your job is to convince the official that your placing is correct by incorporating accurate descriptions of the animals along with clear reasoning of your priorities.
The first thing you need to do is take good notes on the class. Look for identification differences and the main reasons why you have placed one animal over another. Then, after you get the big notes, start noting some of the smaller details that will show that you have evaluated the class carefully. These details will add the extra touch to your reasons, and will help them stand out from the others. Take your notes in the format that you plan to use in your oral reasons.
For example, consider using this nine-box grid to take your notes and prepare your oral reasons. For explanation purposes, we will use a placing of 1234 on a class of Market Hogs.
Box A: When you start your reasons, you will want to make sure you introduce the class you will be discussing along with your placing. Then, you will state why you placed 1 over 2.
Box B: Explain one or two advantages that 2 has over 1. This is called a grant.
Box C: Explain the disadvantages of 2 and why 2 is second place.
Box D: Indicate that you are moving to your intermediate decision, and describe why 2 beats 3.
Box E: Grant one or two reasons why 3 is better than 2.
Box F: Explain the disadvantages of 3 and why 3 is second place.
Box G: Again, indicate that you are moving to your final pair, and describe why 3 beats 4.
Box H: Provide one or two grants for 4 over 3.
Box I: Conclude your oral reasons with the reasons why 4 is last in this class.
So, now that you have a format, where do you get your terms? I think the best place to learn livestock terminology is at local, state and national shows. Listen to what the judges are saying to describe the classes they evaluate. If you don't get to many shows, try to obtain a judging video or handbook with terminology. Many college teams have a handbook that you can obtain by calling their judging team coach. These handbooks usually have many great terms that will help you describe your classes more accurately.
The National Swine Registry has a judging video and a judging handbook that you can order. The videos sell for $25 plus $4 shipping and handling. The judging handbooks are free. Please give us a call if you are interested in obtaining this video or handbook at (765) 463-3594.
<top>
