Virginia 4-H Programs - Animal Science

Virginia 4-H Livestock Program

2000 State Livestock Judging Contest

HEREFORD HEIFERS

		Expected Progeny Difference (EPD’s)
Number	Tag	Birth Wt	Weaning Wt	Maternal Milk	Yearling Wt
1	24	2.5	39	21	65
2	J908	-0.2	43	19	69
3	J911	-0.9	42	20	64
4	J915	1.3	29	27	52
Breed Average		4.0	34	10	57

Selection Scenario: Rank the Hereford heifers as replacements in a purebred Hereford herd. The main objective is production of bulls for the commercial cow-calf industry. Heifers are kept as replacements or sold to other Hereford breeders. Cattle must be trouble-free and easy to keep, since the feeding program for the cowherd is grass pasture and hay without supplementation.

CROSSBRED GILTS

Number	Notch	Litter Size	21-Day Litter Wt.	Days to 230 Pounds	Adjusted Backfat	Dam's SPI
1	507	15	107	154	0.8	113
2	508	15	107	162	0.6	113
3	608	12	140	179	0.9	105
4	609	12	140	158	0.7	105

Selection Scenario:

Rank the gilts as replacements in a commercial farrow to finish operation. These gilts will be mated to Hampshire boars and replacements will not be kept. All pigs will be sold on a carcass basis with payment based on Fat Free Lean Index. An expanding market exists for pigs sold to 4Hers for market hog projects. All pigs will be raised in total confinement.

DORSET RAM LAMBS

Number	Tag	Birth Type	Adj. Wean Wt.	Avg Daily Gain	Adj 120 Day Wt.
1	5	Twin	64	0.72	107
2	8	Single	57	0.86	109
3	21	Single	60	0.70	102
4	36	Twin	59	0.71	102

Selection Scenario:

Rank the rams to be used as sires in a commercial ewe flock. This is a fall and winter-lambing flock focusing on selling market lambs in the late winter through spring. Replacement ewes will be kept. The ability to lamb in the fall and to grow fast up to 100 pounds are keys to the profitability of this operation.

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