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Learning Through the Tested Boar Project
| Name | Howard van Dijk | | Situation | The South Carolina Performance Tested Swine Test Station closed in 1995 after twenty-five years of successfully evaluating growth performance of young purebred boars owned by purebred breeders in the state. I managed the SC Swine Test Station located at the Sandhill Research and Education Center for the last three years that this was in operation. The 50th
Performance Tested Boar sale was held in 1994 and 59 boars were sold. The SC Swine Test Station closed because the pork industry changed from independent farm producers to an integrated industry in which the companies supply the young pigs to be grown out by local farmers who are under contract with an integrator. The large companies supply crossbred pigs eliminating the independent, pure bred swine industry. The closing of Swine Test Stations has gone on across the country. By becoming a controlled production system, swine producers have no opportunity to exhibit how well they are able to select for improved genetic performance other than through the prices they receive from the contract companies. | | Response | Therefore we provide an opportunity for swine producers and breeders of specific pure bred, and cross bred pigs, to exhibit what they produce through a State Performance Contest and show. Producers may exhibit barrows either as adult participants or by providing barrows for 4-H and FFA members to exhibit in the SC Performance Tested Barrow Project. I manage this Barrow project and organize the promotion, weigh the barrows
at the start of the project and at the end of project.
This project could not be conducted without the fine help of volunteers, county agents, livestock agents, and 4-H agents. In addition, the SC State Fair provides a Swine Exhibitor Scholarship of $1,500, sponsored by SC Farm Bureau, and a second scholarship sponsored by the SC Pork Board and the SC Pork Producer's Association for $1,000. Both are available to
participants in the Tested Barrow Contest. | | Impact | This past year 110 barrows were weighed at the start of the project in July and of this number over 90 youth and adults exhibited swine at either a local county fair or at the State Fair Swine Show on October 17, 2006. Youth and adults have an opportunity of learning how to raise a pig and learn what it takes to raise a competitive barrow that meets the current market requirements. Pigs have become much leaner over the years and it takes good nutrition and a well balanced ration to produce a fast
growing pig that remains lean as well. At the end of the project I scan these barrows and determine a back fat measurement and an estimate of loin eye diameter. Back fat, loin eye measurement, rate of gain, and total weight gain, go into the performance evaluation score that determines the winner in the various competing categories. This past year more youth participated from more counties in the state than in previous years. Through promotion with 4-H agents and livestock agents, this project has increased in participation and continues to be a good educational project for life long skills that are promoted through the 4-H and FFA organizations. Information about the show and the scholarship requirements can be found at http://www.scstatefair.org/competitive-exhibits/swine-department/ For further information about the Tested Barrow Project, please contact me at 803-865-1216 ext 128 or send a message to hdijk@clemson.edu. |
Last update7/23/2008
This website is maintained by Patty Harris.
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