< PreviousBy Cassie GodwinJANUARY 2018 | SEEDSTOCK EDGE2018 Jan SE Form.indd 2012/14/2017 8:10:27 AMPhoto purchased from showchampions.com.JANUARY 2018 | SEEDSTOCK EDGE2118 Jan SE Form.indd 2112/14/2017 8:10:27 AMEach year, stockmen from all across the United States travel to Denver, Colorado, for a 16-day event that showcases and celebrates western culture and traditions. The NWSS is known and revered as one of the most storied livestock events in the country. In its almost 112 years of existence, the National Western has shattered record after record, faced hardships and continually exemplifi es what a true stockman is; resilient, progressive and proud. From 1899 to 1905 organized livestock exhibitions took place in Denver, but it wasn’t until Livestock Commission merchants, Stockyards Company executives, packers and cattlemen came together in 1905 to establish the Western Stock Show Association that this stock show took off and became a regular Denver attraction. The show opened on Jan. 29, 1906, and the six-day exhibition brought in an estimated 15,000 cattlemen. These cattlemen and women donned their fi nest attire and traveled by street cars, carriages and train to take in the show beneath the “monster” tent that measured 150 feet by 175 feet. It wasn’t until 1909 that the then newly constructed National Amphitheater (now known as the Stadium Arena) was built. In its earliest days, only Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Shorthorn cattle were shown. That is a stark contrast to today's National Western events, where everything from cattle to poultry and yaks to stock dogs are shown and sold. One aspect of the Western Stock Show Association that is often out of sight, therefore out of mind is its commitment to education and its community. Since 1922, the organization has worked within its program to bring Denver and local suburban children to the show each year. In 1983, the National Western Scholarship Fund was created to provide fi nancial support to stock show exhibitors. Throughout the almost three-week stock show there is also several judging contests in areas such as, livestock, carload, meats, wool and bison. The National Western organization also works to provide interactive and practical workshops for exhibitors young and old. Scattered throughout the 2018 National Western Stock Show schedule you will see numerous livestock care clinics for a variety of species. Each year, over 650,000 National Western attendees frequent the stock show where they walk The Yards, take-in shows on The Hill, browse the trade show and enjoy rodeo and horse events. While the history of the stock show is fi lled to the brim 1906: The Chicago White Sox defeated the Chicago Cubs in the World Series. The Kellogg’s Company was founded. The catastrophic San Francisco earthquake struck the city. The Wright Brothers patent was granted, making way for the “Flying Machine.” That year also brought us one of the grandest and most premier agriculture events in the United States, the National Western Stock Show.JANUARY 2018 | SEEDSTOCK EDGE2218 Jan SE Form.indd 2212/14/2017 10:08:19 AMSet against the backdrop of the beautiful Colorado mountains, The Yards is one of the most historic and celebrated aspects of the National Western Stock Show. Photo purchased from showchampions.com.with additions, growth, new records and celebrations, those great times were not experienced without some hard ones. In 1915, an epidemic of Foot and Mouth Disease prohibited livestock from crossing state lines, resulting in the only cancellation of the National Western. Like all of the U.S., the stock show was not immune to the effects of the Great Depression, but the event was still held and even added its fi rst rodeo to the event. Despite the beginning of World War II, there were record cattle entries in 1942. To support the war the stock show’s Executive Committee made the decision to invest all profi ts in War Bonds. Through these diffi culties, fi res, and bouts of severe weather, and much like the stockmen who established the Western Stock Show Association, the NWSS always prevailed. Looking toward the futureThe NWSS has surpassed its 100th anniversary and has made strategic plans for the next century. An article in the Denver Business Journal, stated the City of Denver, Colorado This photo is from the 1908 National Western Stock Show. Construction on the new National Western Center is expected to begin in October 2019. Photo courtsey of nationalwestern.com. State University and the Western Stock Show Association will oversee the new National Western Center for the next 100 years. Additionally, construction on the new $1 billion facility is expected to begin in October 2019. Included in the new renovation plans for the stock show complex is the 100,000-square-foot Legacy Building. In this same article, an offi cial explained the goal of this state-of-the-art facility is to establish the National Western Center as a, “year-round destination for education, entertainment and agricultural innovation.” According to the National Western's website, the mission of the Western Stock Show Association is, “Investing in future generations, guided by its western heritage, Western Stock Show Association serves the world, promoting youth and community development through livestock and equestrian education, innovation, entertainment and competition.” Each year, over 650,000 National Western attendees frequent the stock show where they walk The Yards, take-in shows on The Hill, browse the trade show and enjoy rodeo and horse events.JANUARY 2018 | SEEDSTOCK EDGE2318 Jan SE Form.indd 2312/14/2017 10:08:19 AMStaying committed to its mission, the goal of the new National Western Center is to celebrate the traditions of the stock show and the western lifestyle, while expanding its reach to include education and entertainment for all future attendees.In a recent Denver Business Journal article, National Western Stock Show president and CEO, Paul Andrews explained the desired purpose of the new complex, specifi cally the Legacy Building.“This is going to be a watering hole, a gallery space, and a place to do business for friends, cowboys and art lovers alike,” Andrews stated. In both the written and illustrated plans for the new National Western Center, you still see various historic landmarks that resonate with the National Western Stock Show. The Stadium Arena that has showcased livestock events since its completion in 1909 will remain a part of the new renovation plans. Perhaps the most famous or noted aspect of the National Western, The Yards, is also getting a facelift. The new Livestock Center is to be constructed where the existing stock yards stand, meaning the new stock yards will be relocated and feature a modern, fl exible pen system that can be removed to better accommodate other events.It can’t be disputed that the National Western Stock Show has served as one of the greatest and most historical agriculture events in the country for the past 112 years. With the steadfast commitment of the Western Stock Show Association leaders, collaboration from various Colorado organizations and plans for a state-of-the-art venue, it’s safe to say the National Western Stock Show will remain among the agriculture event elite. Education and competition play a major role in the mission of the NWSS. During the almost three-week event, hundreds of 4-H, FFA and collegiate students make the trip to Denver to compete in wool, meats, livestock, carload and bison judging contests. Photo courtsey of Quay Owen, 2017 NWSS Media Intern. A pen of Hereford bulls preparing to be shown at the 1907 National Western Stock Show. Each year, stockmen and women attend the livestock shows and sales, both in The Yards and on The Hill, in the Stadium Arena. Photo courtsey of nationalwestern.com. The National Amphitheater is known today as the Stadium Arena. It was completed in 1909, and has hosted National Western Stock Show events since. Photo courtsey of nationalwestern.com.JANUARY 2018 | SEEDSTOCK EDGE2418 Jan SE Form.indd 2412/14/2017 8:10:30 AMJANUARY 2018 | SEEDSTOCK EDGE2518 Jan SE Form.indd 2512/14/2017 8:10:30 AMStarting OffRIGHT!By Rachel DotsonJANUARY 2018 | SEEDSTOCK EDGE2618 Jan SE Form.indd 2612/14/2017 8:10:34 AMWhen to beginA common theme amongst producers is how old the pigs are when they being to processing lit-ters, which typically ranges from 12 to 48 hours. “Once they have dried off and have nursed for a couple of hours we start no more than 12 hours old,” Wade Hendricks, herdsman at Drake Purebred Farms, says. Lindsey Robinson says her family-ran operation starts processing on the fi rst or second day after birth and com-pletes all of the processing steps at once to minimize the number of times the pigs are put under stress.The routineFor Paul Jacobs, genetics coordinator for Shaffer Ge-netics, they start off by weighing all pigs individu-ally at birth, ear notch, count teats and dock tails. “The only change that has been is teeth clipping,” Jacobs says. “Some farms insist on it, but if not done properly you can do more harm than good causing the teeth to break off and leave sharp edges. Also, there is more chance of infections in the mouth of the pig by wounding them.” Drake Purebred Farms and Robinson’s processing routines are similar except both fi rms are still clipping needle teeth. “Within the litter, the piglets are split into males and fe-males,” Robinson says. “Starting with the largest pig of one sex, we clip their needle teeth with side clippers and then dock their tails and cut their umbilical cords to prevent injury. Next the pigs are each given a litter and individual ear notch before being given an iron shot to prevent ane-mia. Finally, we spray their umbilical cords with iodine to prevent infection before placing them back in the crate.” Robinson also says an undocked tail can lead to fu-ture problems with tail biting among pen mates as the pigs grow older. While these procedures might cause temporary stress and pain, they are performed to as-sure health and wellness as each pig develops. Hendricks added that at Drake’s, they dip navels for added prevention against bacterial infections. Hen-dricks is also recording each pigs ear notch, teat number, birth weight and sex while processing. Medications“Giving iron shots is one of the most important newborn pig treatments,” Robinson says. “Iron defi ciency anemia develops quickly in new piglets, it’s important to make sure they are given iron before they are three days old.” Along with an iron shot Hendricks and Jacobs both give a dose of Excede, a penicillin-type medica-tion that treats and controls swine respiratory dis-ease and attacks a broad range of pathogens. Equipment disinfectantAll agree on the importance of keeping the equipment such as ear notchers and needle teeth clippers as clean as possible while processing pigs and utilize a disinfectant solution. “We disinfect all our equipment in Chlorhexidine solution,” Jacobs says. “Also, once a week we put all our equipment in the dishwasher to thoroughly clean and sterilize it.” Preventing and treating scours“The key is having the guys do a good job cleaning and disinfecting the rooms between farrowing cycles,” Jacobs says. “We use glutaraldehyde and bleach to disinfect the farrowing rooms, not together but 24 hours apart.” Prior to farrowing Jacobs and his team will vaccinate sows with Prosytem RCE, which give the sow a boost of immunity against RotaVirus, Clostridium and E.coli. “Depending on what the herd has, if it’s E.coli, which is most common, one cc of gentamycin will usually cure some mild E.coli,” Jacob says. “We use Mistral as a dry-ing agent to help babies dry after birth, but it is also a very good mild disinfectant that can be spread around in the crates to prevent any mild scours from getting out of con-trol. If you have a viral diarrhea, you have a more serious problem on hand and better consult a qualifi ed vet.” proc·ess1 noun: process; plural noun: processes 1. a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end. Raising any type of livestock is associated with many processes, some are time consuming but necessary processes. Whether you are a commercial swine producer or raising showpigs, the process of making sure the next generation starts off on the right foot to help move your op-eration forward might take place in the farrowing barn. Lindsey Robinson, Robinson Livestock, Missouri, Wade Hendricks, Drake Purebred Farms, Indiana, and Paul Jacobs, Shaffer Genetics, Indiana, provided tips and protocols they follow to ensure a strong beginning of life for pigs in their operation. JANUARY 2018 | SEEDSTOCK EDGE2718 Jan SE Form.indd 2712/14/2017 8:10:36 AMBILLBANKING ON AFollow along throughout 2018, as the Seedstock EDGE staff tracks the progress of the upcoming Farm Bill. BILLJANUARY 2018 | SEEDSTOCK EDGE2818 Jan SE Form.indd 2812/14/2017 8:10:36 AMBILLBILLBy Rachel DotsonNational Pork Producers Council, along with more than 90 other agriculture-related organizations are making strides to ensure this year’s bill includes that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service develops a more suffi cient vaccine bank to combat against any potential case of a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in the U.S. In NPPC’s Issue Paper, the group requested, “Congress to authorize annual funding for the life of the Farm Bill of $150 million for the vaccine bank. $30 million of that designated for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network and the other $70 million in block grants for state animal health agencies to enhance their ability to respond to a foreign animal disease emergency.” “The need for a more robust vaccine bank has been talked about prior to all the excitement it has been getting in the Farm Bill right now,” Dr. Patrick Webb, National Pork Board’s director of swine health programs says. “It was designated as a need a while back. Now, it has started gaining traction as we are able to put together dollar amounts to try to get to that meaningful level. We have all recognized the need, it’s just where do you get your assets to get it done.”FMD is caused by a virus and is a highly contagious disease of cloven-hoofed animals. Infected animals will typically have a fever, blisters on the tongue and lips, in and around the mouth, on the mammary glands and around the hooves. The blisters, which are called vesicles, pop and turn into red areas called erosions. Most affected animals start showing signs within two to 14 days and will not die from FMD, but the disease weakens them and they are unable to produce meat or milk in the way they did before.Clinical signs of the disease can be confused with other diseases like vesicular stomatitis and swine vesicular disease. It is also not related to the common childhood illness known as hand, foot and mouth disease, which is caused by a different virus. FMD is not a threat to public health and it doesn’t affect the safety of meat products sold in supermarkets, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organizations. The Farm Bill was established to keep food prices fair for farmers and consumers, ensure adequate food supply and protect and sustain the country’s vital natural resources. Although the current bill in place, which was signed in February 2014, isn’t set to expire until fall of 2018, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees are currently in progress constructing the updated bill. One signifi cant issue facing the beef, sheep and pork industries currently is the lack of access to enough Foot and Mouth Disease vaccines should an outbreak occur.JANUARY 2018 | SEEDSTOCK EDGE2918 Jan SE Form.indd 2912/14/2017 8:10:36 AMNext >