PENNSYLVANIA FURNACE, Pa. — Swine producers from Pennsylvania and surrounding states gathered Aug. 17 for the 36th annual Swine Boar and Gilt Performance Tested Sale at the Livestock Evaluation Center in Pennsylvania Furnace, Centre County.
The Yorkshire, Duroc, Berkshire and crossbred hog breeds, represented in the sale, brought an average of $512 for 19 tested boars and $438 for 11 tested gilts.
Top sellers
The top-selling, high-indexing boar was a Yorkshire consignment from Conrad Neutzel, of Seven Valleys, York County, which sold for $900.
The pair of top selling gilts, Durocs consigned by Pepple Genetics of New Enterprise, Blair County, brought $625 each. They were part of the high indexing pen of gilts in the performance test.
The boars and gilts were tested for growth, muscling and fat deposition over the testing period. The genetic potential of the boars and gilts completing the testing program is indicated by the collected data.
Top-performing boars and gilts from the performance test were selected for the 2011 sale.
Upon finishing the test, boars and gilts were ultrasonically scanned for loin eye area and fat thickness and examined for breeding soundness. All boars and gilts were sold with growth data, feed efficiency, loin measurements and fat thicknesses and were considered herd improvers.
Swine producers can use this data to make important breeding and sales decisions that will offer consumers more value and farmers more profit.
Information
For more information on Pennsylvania Performance Swine Tests, contact Livestock Evaluation Center staff at 814-238-2527 or ghubbard@pa.gov. For more information on the center and other performance testing programs and sales, visit www.livestockevaluationcenter.com.
