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 $6 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 at the Green County UW-Extension office, 2841 6th St., Monroe. The DNA kits and ear tags will be available for pick up starting March 31 and must be returned to the Extension by April 18. 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 Extension office will loan out ear taggers. The taggers must be returned to the Extension office and will be sanitized before being given to another farm to prevent the spread of disease. Agriculture instructors and 4-H leaders will be allowed to pick up ID kits for their members. However, they will be required to sign and pay for all the kits that they pick up at the Extension office. Each kit will include an envelope for hair samples and two RFID ear tags for each pig.
When picking up 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 2017 Green County Fair.
All pigs, including both market gilts and market barrows need to be self-identified, with hair samples submitted. Each exhibitor can identify a maximum of five pigs. Exhibitors will be allowed to bring a maximum of four pigs, no more than two of which can be market gilts. Pigs must weigh at least 225 pounds by the fair to exhibit and at least 235 to sell in the Green County Fair livestock auction. The 2017 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 2017 auction. Exhibitors no longer need to attend a mandatory auction meeting. However, they still will need to turn in two signed buyer cards to the Extension office by June 30 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 Extension office.
All Green County swine exhibitors are required to be certified in the Meat Animal Quality Assurance Program prior to June 1 to be eligible to exhibit swine at the fair. MAQA classes will be held May 3 and 13 and exhibitors can sign up at the Extension office.
Swine exhibitors also will 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 also must be turned in to the Extension office by June 30 with the signed buyer cards.
For more information, contact Mark Mayer, Extension agriculture agent, 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 $6 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 at the Green County UW-Extension office, 2841 6th St., Monroe. The DNA kits and ear tags will be available for pick up starting March 31 and must be returned to the Extension by April 18. 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 Extension office will loan out ear taggers. The taggers must be returned to the Extension office and will be sanitized before being given to another farm to prevent the spread of disease. Agriculture instructors and 4-H leaders will be allowed to pick up ID kits for their members. However, they will be required to sign and pay for all the kits that they pick up at the Extension office. Each kit will include an envelope for hair samples and two RFID ear tags for each pig.
When picking up 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 2017 Green County Fair.
All pigs, including both market gilts and market barrows need to be self-identified, with hair samples submitted. Each exhibitor can identify a maximum of five pigs. Exhibitors will be allowed to bring a maximum of four pigs, no more than two of which can be market gilts. Pigs must weigh at least 225 pounds by the fair to exhibit and at least 235 to sell in the Green County Fair livestock auction. The 2017 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 2017 auction. Exhibitors no longer need to attend a mandatory auction meeting. However, they still will need to turn in two signed buyer cards to the Extension office by June 30 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 Extension office.
All Green County swine exhibitors are required to be certified in the Meat Animal Quality Assurance Program prior to June 1 to be eligible to exhibit swine at the fair. MAQA classes will be held May 3 and 13 and exhibitors can sign up at the Extension office.
Swine exhibitors also will 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 also must be turned in to the Extension office by June 30 with the signed buyer cards.
For more information, contact Mark Mayer, Extension agriculture agent, at 608-328-9440.