The AgriPost
December 30, 2022
Starlite Colony Gets Top Score at Prairie Livestock Expo By Harry Siemens The pork quality competition is an event that celebrates excellence in pork production by recognizing the best of the best. A highlight of Prairie Livestock Expo, hog producers compete for the title of grand champion – the carcass with the perfect combination of meat quality traits and measurements. Since 1996, hog producers and sponsors have donated $442,000 to international, national, rural and urban charities such as hospitals and children’s organizations. They have also donated over 68,000 kg (152,000 lb) of the world’s finest quality pork to Manitoba food banks for less fortunate families in need during Christmas. On December 17 in Winnipeg, the Starlite Colony of Starbuck won the grand champion carcass with a score of 101 out of 111 possible points awarded by carcass competition judge Jason Care of Manitoba Hog Grading. In addition, the colony donated the prize money of $5,000 to the charity of their choice, Heart of Truth, which equips the Christian Workers’ Society of Canada.
The Starlite Colony of Starbuck won the grand champion carcass with a score of 101 out of 111 possible points awarded by carcass competition judge Jason Care of Manitoba Hog Grading. In addition, the colony donated the prize money of $5,000 to the charity of their choice, Heart of Truth, which equips the Christian Workers’ Society of Canada. Photo by Harry Siemens
Of the winning carcass, the sow genetics is Topigs Norsvin and the boar is a PIC800 boar sire. Care who judged the competition said the best score for any carcass is 111 points based on the strict guidelines for the measurements in grading the pork. “The criteria is set up based on the best market hog that we are selling on the market for example a premium hog, going to Japan,” said Care. It’s a measure of back fat. He said the target is 16 to 17 millimetres, a loin that’s pref-
erably over 60 to 70 millimetres. While judging they also, consider the square surface area of the loin and how fat. A camera judges the colour of the carcass which is combined with weight. These guidelines are very narrow. Trevor and Theodore Hofer, the two young hog men accepting the trophy on behalf of the Starlite Colony said there was nothing different in how they treat the two entry hogs picked a week before the competition date other than tnder loving care. “You treat them with gentle
care on the days that you select them, and then you make sure to look after them properly,” said Trevor. “You can watch them for the week as they grow to get the right width, and then you just look at the lines and hope for the best.” Theodore said as he held on to the sizeable trophy, “Shoot. I don’t know what I feel. It’s not a feeling that I expected. It’s just something different that comes over you in a moment like this. I don’t know how to describe it.” He’s worked in hog barns since he could walk. “Since our dad took us to the barn to get us out of our mom’s hands. Just take us to the barn and make us work,” said Theodore. Theodore said they normally put in more effort and selected the nicest pigs this year. “And if you’re in hogs long enough, you know what a nice pig looks like,” said Theodore. “And big loin, got weight, and if you can see the shadow of the pig’s loin, there’s a shadow inside the loin and on the back, then you know it’s got a big one.” Jason Care the judge for this year’s event said the industry committee met two years ago and reset the standards to suit the market and the packer for Continued on Page 3...
Hit the Ground Running in 2023 with These Producer Events St. Jean Farm Days - January 11 & 12, 2023 See Pages 7-10 for Program 2023 MB Forage Seed Producer Forum & AGM - January 12-13, 2023 at the Victoria Inn, Winnipeg. This years Theme “New Technologies & Agronomy Practices in Agriculture” brings together growers and industry to learn about current technologies and production practises such as real-time soil diagnostic, precision agriculture machine applications, how to increase soil health and achieve greater resilience to weather extremes, current research in the industry and the forage seed outlook and market update. Manitoba Beef & Forage Week – January 1012, 2023 - Choose an in-person meeting at a Manitoba community near you. January 10 - Eriksdale Recreation Centre at1 pm; January 10 - Grandview Kinsmen Centre at 7 pm; January 11 - Austin Community Centre at 8:45 am and January 12 - Rosa Shevchenko Ukrainian Centre at 9 am. Austin Beef and Forage Day - January 11, 2023 in Austin. For more information, call the Manitoba Agriculture office in Portage at 204-2393353 about this event and others in Rosa (January 12), Eriksdale (January 10) and Grandview (January 10). Manitoba Ag Days - Jan 17-19, 2023 - at the Keystone Centre, Brandon. An exposition of agricultural production expertise, technology, and equipment that attracts exhibitors and visitors from across Canada and the United States of America. Brokenhead Ag Days - February 1st, 2023 See Pages 13-16 for program!