NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SWINE HUSBANDRY
ON-FARM PERFORMANCE TESTING PROGRAM


PROGRAM OBJECTIVE

The objective of the On-Farm Performance Testing Program is to provide purebred and commercial swine producers with estimates of the genetic value of their animals for growth rate, carcass leanness, and sow productivity. This program is divided into two parts:

  1. Individual Performance
    a. Growth rate and backfat thickness
    b. Growth rate, backfat thickness and loin eye area
  2. Sow Productivity

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Individual Performance

Growth Rate and Backfat Thickness

  1. Participating swine producers will be provided litter data cards.
  2. Producers will complete the data cards as the litter information becomes available.
  3. The producer must inform the technician of the farrowing dates of each test group of litters.
  4. The technician will schedule a weigh date to weigh and backfat probe the test group when all litters in that group are approximately 154 days old.
  5. Weights will be obtained either on the technician's portable scales or scales provided by the breeder.
  6. The weights and probes of each pig plus other required information will be recorded on the data cards.
  7. The technician will transfer the completed litter data cards to North Carolina State University for computer processing.
  8. Three copies of the processed data will be printed and will be distributed with one copy to the producer, one to the extension livestock agent in the producer's county, and on retained by Extension Swine Husbandry.

Growth Rate, Backfat Thickness, and Loin Eye Area

  1. The polices and procedures are the same as under Growth Rate and Backfat Thickness except that
    a. Loin eye area on each pig will be measured with Real-time Ultrasound.
    b. Producers must supply at the measurement site:
    • an electrical power supply
    • sturdy table or platform to support the Real-time Ultrasound equipment. Minimum dimensions on the purport surface must be 24 inches by 36 inches.
    • pens, panels, and labor for proper restraint of animals.
  2. A separate report will be prepared that will contain:
a. Individual pig identification
b. Loin eye area adjusted to 230 lbs.
c. Estimated percent carcass lean.

Sow Productivity

  1. The sow productivity program is in the form of software to be operated on home computers. This program is operated strictly by the producer with no technician input.

COSTS

Individual Performance

All program participants will be billed quarterly. The costs will be based on an annual enrollment fee of $20.00. Additional charges will be based on:

Growth Rate and Backfat Thickness - Steel Ruler

  1. $30.00 minimum charge per technician's stop. This will include weighing and probing on a maximum of 50 pigs.
  2. $0.25 per pig for each pig in excess of 50 pigs.
  3. $20.00 per technician's stop for scale rental whenever the technician's scales are used. This scale rental fee will go into effect 365 days after producer enrolls in the program.

Growth Rate, Backfat Thickness, and Loin Eye Area - Real-Time Ultrasound

  1. $80.00 minimum charge per technician's stop. This will include Real-time Scanning on a maximum of 20 pigs.
  2. $3.00 per pig for each pig scanned between 21 and 150 head.
  3. $2.50 per pig for each pig scanned beyond 150 head.

NOTE: If both program are used on the same farm stop the $20.00 minimum under Growth Rate and Backfat Thickness will be waived.

Sow Productivity

  1. There is no charge for the Sow Productivity Program software.

POLICIES REVISED 01/2001

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