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“The Pinnacle” Archives
The newsletter of the National Junior Swine Association
Summer 2001 Highlights
ARTICLES
Changes
by Allen E. Christian
Judging Livestock: Gilt Selection
by Jennifer Shike
Ten Commandments for Parents of Youngsters Showing Livestock
by Clyde D. Lane, Jr., Extension Specialist, University of Tennessee
Thoughts from the Word
by Ray Perryman
Changes
by Allen E. Christian
Change, it is said, is inevitable and through my years of involvement in the swine industry, I have witnessed many of them. I still recall, rather vividly, my early years in 4-H and my first attempt at showing a pig. Receiving the champion boar, gilt and litter award was a real highlight. I think it was then and there that I became "addicted" to the pig business.
Since those early years, many changes have occurred in our industry. Each of those changes happened because of economic factors and the needs of an industry. For example:
1940s - Early 1950s
Fat hogs were produced in abundance. Market weights were heavy, often in the 300-pound plus range. Why? Lard was at a premium because it was needed for the manufacture of ammunitions and explosives for the war effort.
Judging terms often used during this period included thick, mellow, early-maturing, and uniformly wide from front to rear.
Mid 1950s - Mid 1960s
The era of the "meat type" hog began. Lard was no longer of great value. Slaughter weights were lowered and the "Meat Certification" program was started. The backfat probe was invented and testing stations were built. They became important tools for progress in the swine industry.
Judging terms often used during this period included leanness, trimness, meatiness, high percent ham and loin/primal cuts.
1960s
In this decade, producers continued to select for lean, muscular hogs with light market weights - 190-240 pounds seemed to be the most acceptable. During this time the "sudden death syndrome" became evident and the stress gene was soon discovered. This problem led to the selection of a less muscular, larger framed, more productive animal in an effort to get away from the smaller, tight-wound, stress-susceptible type of pig.
1970s
This trend of selection for the larger framed, longer muscled and faster growing hog continued. The thick, muscular hogs were not highly sought after during this period. This, too, would change. Descriptive terms in the judging ring included frame size, later-maturing, longer sided, flatter muscled and longer muscled.
1980s
During the ’80s, a trend for a more productive, more durable, and wider made hog with continued emphasis on growth occurred. There were a number of boars at this time that grew at the rate of 3 pounds/day or more in central test stations. Performance seemed to rule during this period.
Judging terms often heard at shows included deeper bodied, wider made, performance-oriented, and faster growing.
1990s
The packing industry and consumer preference for a leaner product triggered this era change. Lean premiums by packers increased during this time and some producers were warned that their hogs would no longer be purchased if improvement wasn’t made. Leanness became the standard, and to a large degree, continues today.
Ultra sound measurements for fat and lean came into its own and selection pressure increased in these areas. Carcass contests again had more significance and became more popular. You all know the terms of this period, I’m sure - lean, shapely, clean fronted, big hipped, etc.
2000s
What occurs during this period will depend on many things: who the "players" are, consumer demands, and the development of techniques for pre-slaughter (or shortly thereafter) pork quality measurements. Who can predict what’s next? Will you be a part of this ever-changing industry?
Keep an open mind, an eye for the future, and the will to change things. Whatever you do, stand up for what you believe!
It’s been a wonderful experience for me to have been involved in judging youth swine shows and working with young people for over 40 years. I’ve met many, many great young people. I’ve watched them grow and become a part of this great industry. It gives me a sense of worthiness and pride that I hope you, too, may experience one day.
Changes are not always for the best, but they will continue to occur. I urge you, as our future leaders, to be there to help it along. I’d like to close with a verse from the pen of the great sports writer Grantland Rice:
"When that last great scorer comes
To write beside your name
It won’t be whether you won or lost,
But how you played the game."
Remember this as you prepare and exhibit your projects at the upcoming shows and events. May you enjoy success and have satisfaction in knowing you did your best.
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Judging Livestock: Gilt Selection
by Jennifer Shike
When judging breeding gilts, it’s important to look for a combination of the following traits: balance and structure, frame and volume, leanness and muscle, and underline quality.
Gilts have to be designed correctly in order to function in a wide range of environments. The ideal gilt should have proper curvature to her forearm and cushion to her pastern so she can drive comfortably off her front end. She should be loose in her hip and hock, while setting her rear leg down square from behind, and being even in her rear toe size. Additionally, she should stand down on adequate substance of bone and be durable in her skeleton.
The ideal gilt should be balanced or attractive on the profile. She should be slightly taller at her shoulder than at her hip. She should be long and clean fronted, level in her topline, and set high at the base of her tail. Both structure and design contribute to balance to give the ideal gilt a complete look of function and show ring appeal.
The ideal gilt is big framed and tall fronted. She should be long bodied, and level and extended in her hip. Frame and volume contribute to the overall dimension of a gilt. A truly dimensional gilt should be opened up underneath and be wide in her chest floor. She should be pulled apart at her blade and have shape to her rib as it comes out of her shoulder. Finally, she should be as deep in her flank as she is in her chest floor.
Composition is the combination of leanness and muscle. The ideal gilt needs to be clean fronted, lean over her shoulder, defined along her loin edge and free of waste through her lower body. She should have a large volume of muscle that does not restrict her skeleton.
She should have seven, high-quality teats on each side of her underline. The underline should start as far forward as possible. The teats should be moderate in length and even in spacing. The underline should be free of inverted teats, pin nipples or teats that are too large or too small.
Remember that livestock judging requires continual practice. A good judge seeks out advice from more experienced judges and breeders. The more time you spend listening to the judges at shows and watching how they place classes, the better you will become. With this in mind, focus on the main differences and don’t get caught up in the little differences they have in terms of muscle, volume and underline quality.
Remember, keep it simple!
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10 Commandments for Parents of Youngsters Showing Livestock
by Clyde D. Lane, Jr., Extension Specialist, University of Tennessee
1. Thou shalt not feed, train, and care for the animal for thou are trying to teach the child responsibility.
2. Thou shalt forgive a child for making mistakes in the show ring for thou hast made mistakes, too.
3. Thou shalt not get mad when thy child forgets items in the showbox, for one day thou may forget the showbox.
4. Thou shalt help the show management for they are doing a job that thou would not want to do.
5. Thou shalt see that thy child is on time for all show activities for thou would not want to wait on another.
6. Thou shalt make sure thy child has animals entered and registration papers in order by the designated time.
7. Thou shalt teach the child that winning a blue ribbon is a desirable goal but making friends along the way is more worthy a goal.
8. Thou shalt not complain about the judge for it is his/her opinion that has been sought.
9. Thou shalt remember that livestock projects are teaching projects, not necessarily money-making projects.
10. Thou shalt remember that the livestock project is a family project that shall be enjoyed and supported by the entire family.
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Thoughts From The Word
by Ray Perryman, Short Round Ministries
Hello once again from Short Round Ministries! I want to take a few minutes of your time to share with you some thoughts that might encourage you today. Do you recall the little guy in the Bible named David? Oh, come on. Don’t you remember the little guy that your Sunday school teachers told you about? David is the little fellow that found himself in a fight to the death with a giant named Goliath.
Can you imagine being a kid and having to fight not just a grown man, but a giant man? David knew he could never defeat the giant on his own. David also knew that he didn’t have to fight Goliath alone. You see, David knew God. And my friends, when you know God, you are never alone at any time or any place.
I don’t know for sure, but I imagine that David was more than a little scared when he saw the size of Goliath. But guess what? All that fear went away when he stopped and realized how big God really is. Now we know the ending to the story. David killed Goliath with his slingshot guided by his faith in God.
Are any of you facing some giants in your lives today? Without Jesus, some giants are just too big to face. But with Jesus, nothing is too big for you to handle. So let me encourage you to not look at the situation. Please look at the only possible answer for life’s impossible situations - Jesus.
If you have never asked Jesus into your life, please pray this simple prayer right where you are. Jesus, please forgive me of all my sins and come into my life today. Lord, I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that you are my Lord and Savior. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer for the first time, please call us at (806) 832-4137 - day or night.
Remember - Jesus is Lord!
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