PENNSYLVANIA FURNACE, Pa. — An exceptional group of tested boars and gilts produced record-breaking results at Pennsylvania’s 33rd Performance Test Boar and Gilt Sale, held Aug. 20, at the Samuel E. Hayes Jr. Livestock Evaluation Center.
Record high
The group of 14 boars averaged a record high of $658, and two gilts averaged $250. All hogs offered in the sale completed a test program and were fed and managed in the same way.
The hogs are weighed regularly until each pen reaches an average weight of 250 pounds.
As the pigs come off test, they are scanned ultrasonically to determine fat thickness and loin-eye area.
Pigs offered for sale were tested twice for Porcine, Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, and none of the hogs were fed or given any growth enhancing agents.
Excellent demand
There was an excellent demand for the relatively small number of animals offered in the sale. The 14 boars commanded the highest average ever for a Pennsylvania Performance Tested Sale at $658.
The first pen to be offered was the high-indexing pen of boars from Carl Rabenold of Kutztown, Pa. The first choice from this pen sold for $1,000 to Kevin Niehls of Barto, Pa. He selected the lone crossbred boar in the sale.
The top indexing individual boar was also consigned by Rabenold, and was purchased by the Jones Farm of Danville, Pa., for $800. The 11 Yorkshire boars sold for $7,200 to average $655.
Two Berkshire boars consigned by Arlie Cornbower of New Freedom, Pa., sold for $700 to William Eckenbarger of Finksburg, Md., and $300 to Steven Pryzant of Honesdale, Pa., to average $500.
Two Hampshire-Yorkshire cross gilts sold for an average of $250 to Park House of Royersford, Pa., and Ralph Williams of Bedford, Pa.
For more information about the Boar and Gilt Testing Program or to request a sale catalog, contact Glenn Eberly at 814-238-2527 or geberly@state.pa.us.
For more information on the Livestock Evaluation Center and other performance testing programs and sales, visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us/lec.
