MONROE - Green County fair swine exhibitors will be required to self-identify their pigs using the same method that was used last year.
Exhibitors will be required to tag their own pigs and pull hair samples for DNA testing from each fair pig. The cost of the DNA test kits will be $10 per pig. Exhibitors will also be given two RFID ear tags for each animal at no additional cost. DNA test kits and ear tags will only be available for pickup at the Green County University of Wisconsin-Extension Office, 2841 6th St., Monroe.
The DNA kits and ear tags will be available for pickup starting March 29 and must be returned to the Green County Extension by April 17. The kits cannot be mailed. Hair samples will be pulled from the champion pigs along with several pigs at random at the fair this summer. DNA tests will then be run to ensure that the pigs are the same as those that were tagged by exhibitors this spring.
The Green County UW-Extension Office will loan out ear taggers for exhibitors to use for tagging their pigs. The taggers must be returned to the UW-Extension office and will be sanitized before being given to another farm to prevent the spread of disease. Exhibitors will be required to pay the fee for each DNA testing kit when they pick them up, and 4-H leaders and agriculture instructors will be allowed to pick up ID kits for their members. However, they will be required to sign and pay for all of the kits they pick up.
When picking up their pig identification kits, exhibitors will be provided with instructions on the correct procedures for pulling the DNA hair samples and placing the RFID ear tags. The DNA hair sample envelopes will need to be signed by both the exhibitor and a parent. Only pigs that are identified using the Green County ID kits will be eligible to exhibit at the 2018 Green County Fair.
All pigs, including market gilts and market barrows, need to be self-identified and submit hair samples. Each exhibitor can identify a maximum of five pigs. Exhibitors will be allowed to bring a maximum of four total pigs, no more than two of which can be market gilts. Pigs must weigh at least 225 pounds by the time of the fair to exhibit and at least 235 to sell in the Green County Fair livestock auction. The 2018 Green County show will continue to be a terminal show with all pigs going directly to a terminal market after the fair to eliminate the possible spread of any diseases.
Exhibitors will be allowed to sell either a gilt or barrow in the 2018 auction. Exhibitors no longer need to attend a mandatory auction meeting. However, they will still need to turn in two signed buyer cards to the Green County Extension Office by June 29 to be eligible to sell in the auction. The cards will be available online for printing after May 1. Hard copies of the buyer cards will also be available at the office.
All Green County swine exhibitors are required to be certified in the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals program prior to April 17. Directions on how to certify will be explained when the swine identifications are picked up at the Extension office. Each individual Green County swine exhibitor must submit a copy of their YQCA Certificate of Completion, to the office by 4:30 p.m. April 17 in order to be eligible to exhibit and sell market hogs at the 2018 Green County Fair.
Swine exhibitors will also be required to complete swine health verification forms that include any medical treatments that were administered to the project animal. These forms will be distributed to exhibitors when they pick up their ID kits and must also be turned in to the office by June 29 with the signed buyer cards. For more information, contact the Green County UW-Extension Office at 608-328-9440.
Exhibitors will be required to tag their own pigs and pull hair samples for DNA testing from each fair pig. The cost of the DNA test kits will be $10 per pig. Exhibitors will also be given two RFID ear tags for each animal at no additional cost. DNA test kits and ear tags will only be available for pickup at the Green County University of Wisconsin-Extension Office, 2841 6th St., Monroe.
The DNA kits and ear tags will be available for pickup starting March 29 and must be returned to the Green County Extension by April 17. The kits cannot be mailed. Hair samples will be pulled from the champion pigs along with several pigs at random at the fair this summer. DNA tests will then be run to ensure that the pigs are the same as those that were tagged by exhibitors this spring.
The Green County UW-Extension Office will loan out ear taggers for exhibitors to use for tagging their pigs. The taggers must be returned to the UW-Extension office and will be sanitized before being given to another farm to prevent the spread of disease. Exhibitors will be required to pay the fee for each DNA testing kit when they pick them up, and 4-H leaders and agriculture instructors will be allowed to pick up ID kits for their members. However, they will be required to sign and pay for all of the kits they pick up.
When picking up their pig identification kits, exhibitors will be provided with instructions on the correct procedures for pulling the DNA hair samples and placing the RFID ear tags. The DNA hair sample envelopes will need to be signed by both the exhibitor and a parent. Only pigs that are identified using the Green County ID kits will be eligible to exhibit at the 2018 Green County Fair.
All pigs, including market gilts and market barrows, need to be self-identified and submit hair samples. Each exhibitor can identify a maximum of five pigs. Exhibitors will be allowed to bring a maximum of four total pigs, no more than two of which can be market gilts. Pigs must weigh at least 225 pounds by the time of the fair to exhibit and at least 235 to sell in the Green County Fair livestock auction. The 2018 Green County show will continue to be a terminal show with all pigs going directly to a terminal market after the fair to eliminate the possible spread of any diseases.
Exhibitors will be allowed to sell either a gilt or barrow in the 2018 auction. Exhibitors no longer need to attend a mandatory auction meeting. However, they will still need to turn in two signed buyer cards to the Green County Extension Office by June 29 to be eligible to sell in the auction. The cards will be available online for printing after May 1. Hard copies of the buyer cards will also be available at the office.
All Green County swine exhibitors are required to be certified in the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals program prior to April 17. Directions on how to certify will be explained when the swine identifications are picked up at the Extension office. Each individual Green County swine exhibitor must submit a copy of their YQCA Certificate of Completion, to the office by 4:30 p.m. April 17 in order to be eligible to exhibit and sell market hogs at the 2018 Green County Fair.
Swine exhibitors will also be required to complete swine health verification forms that include any medical treatments that were administered to the project animal. These forms will be distributed to exhibitors when they pick up their ID kits and must also be turned in to the office by June 29 with the signed buyer cards. For more information, contact the Green County UW-Extension Office at 608-328-9440.