Pa. Gilt Breeders Post Successful Sale — a Week Early

A Spotted Gilt Takes Supreme for First Time

Dave Lefever
Editor

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Even though they didn’t get a chance to bask in any of the public spotlight during Farm Show week, Pennsylvania swine breeders pulled off a successful gilt show and sale a week earlier than normal last weekend.

In addition to the date change, the show posted another first in its history: a Spotted gilt was named supreme champion last Saturday morning before the start of the sale.

The show and sale were moved up a week — to New Year’s Day and Jan. 2, respectively — by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Farm Show Commission because of biosecurity concerns — specifically to prevent the public from passing the H1N1 flu virus to any of the hogs. The events are traditionally held at the beginning of the Farm Show, which runs Jan. 9-16 this year.

The eight-breed sale at the Farm Show Complex averaged just over $500 on 153 bred gilts, according to the sale report from Harry Bachman, auctioneer. A total of 133 bidders from 11 states kept the sale lively.

Jim Sharp, manager of Farm Show livestock events, said the average was the highest of the past three bred gilt sales, going back to 2008. That was despite earlier worries about the date change keeping some buyers away because of holiday conflicts.

“The sale went really well,” Sharp said. “I think we were a little surprised at how well it was received.”

Even though there were some positives to the sale being a week earlier — including not having lots of spectators potentially getting in the way of exhibitors moving hogs around — Sharp said the Farm Show would like to see the show and sale return to their normal time slots next year.

The Farm Show Commission will get feedback from the bred gilt committee and likely decide on the 2011 dates at its meeting this coming April, he said.

Durocs posted the highest sale average, with 22 head averaging $595.45.

Forty head of Yorkshires averaged $551.90, coming in second. Hampshires were the third high-selling breed, with 16 head going for an average of $507.80.

Dalton Hall’s supreme champion Spotted gilt went for a pretty price of $1,300 to Charles M. Koegel of Addison, N.Y., handily breaking the previous high price for a Spotted gilt at the sale — $750 in 1979.

Youngster Dalton is a third-generation hog breeder, following in the footsteps of his father Mark and grandfather Charlie Hall of Rattlesnake Mt. Farm, Julian, Centre County. The family raises five different breeds of swine, selling club pigs to youth each spring.

“I’ve been in the pig business since I was eight years old,” said Charlie Hall, who purchased the farm’s Spotted hogs about six years ago for his grandson, because Dalton “liked the looks of them.”

“They’ve done well for us,” Charlie said, with some being named champion at the county fair.

Yorkshires and Berkshires are among the other breeds favored by the Halls.

Berkshires especially figure into a new business venture for Mark. He recently started a restaurant in Unionville, and Berkshire pork from Rattlesnake Mt. Farm is a featured item on the menu. The breed is considered by some to produce a better tasting pork because of a greater amount of internal marbling, according to Charlie.

The reserve champion Spotted gilt was exhibited by Amanda Robinson of Delta, Pa.

Jim Rodibaugh of Indiana judged the show. Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was on hand to congratulate gilt breeders and welcome buyers to the sale.

Other breed champions are as follows: 

Berkshire
Champion and Reserve
James T. Parlett Jr., Airville

Chester White
Champion
James T. Parlett & Son, Airville
Reserve
Lazarus Family, Germansville

Duroc
Champion
Holloway Genetics, Glen Rock
Reserve
Chambers Family Farm, Punxsutawney

Hampshire
Champion and Reserve
Holloway Genetics, Glen Rock
  
Landrace
Champion
Grant A. Lazarus III, Germansville
Reserve
Amanda Robinson, Delta

Poland China
Champion and Reserve
John Strawbridge, Whitehall

Yorkshire
Champion
Wilson Brothers, New Freedom
Reserve
John Ebersole, Duncannon