46 swine Participating in Annual Show

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will host the annual Swine Progeny Performance Testing Program Show at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7th, 2009, at the Pennsylvania Livestock Evaluation Center, following an intensive 12-week testing program.

The show will feature 46 barrows and gilts currenlty on test, including four of each Hampshire and Spotted, eight Durocs, 13 Crossbreds and 17 Yorkshire.  The testing program runs from Oct 2 to Dec. 30, and tracks average daily gain and feed efficiency of the animals every two weeks.

Following the show, the pigs will be taken to Leidy's Premium Pork Products for slaughter and carcass evaluation, which will provide comprehensive data and identify beneficial carcass traits.

Producers are eligible for premiums and awards at the show based on live and carcass placing.

The progeny test and show are conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania Pork Producers council.  The program enables swine producers to improve the genetics of animals in their operations, helping to stregthen the efficiency and quality of the
pork industy in Pennsylvania.

For more information about Pennsylvania's performance testing programs and sales, contact Glenn Eberly at (814) 238-2527 or geberly@state.pa.us.  Visit the Livestock Evaluation Center's Web site
at www.agriculture.state.pa.us/lec

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The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Samuel E. Hayes, Jr. Livestock Evaluation Center measures genetic traits for cattle, swine, sheep, and meat goats for two purposes: to benefit producers in evaluating economically important traits, and to benefit consumers by providing wholesome, high quality products at an affordable price.