EAST LANSING, Mich. - Nobody takes pigs as seriously as the Animal Science Department at Michigan State University.
That's why MSU students produced champion pigs at the National Barrow Show in Austin, Minn., this fall.
MSU faculty and students interested in swine have attended the annual show since 1966, but this is the first time they have brought home a blue ribbon. At the show, sponsored by Hormel, MSU competed against Iowa State University and 23 private farmers.
Three graduate students, Shawn Kronner of Mikado, Dave Edwards of Gilbert, Iowa, and Mark Hoge of Cambridge, Ill., escorted 18 pigs to Austin, where the pigs were successful in three shows.
According to Croner, purebred pigs were judged in the first show, while crossbreds were judged in the second. During the third show, purebreds were compared with crossbreds. In each show, the pigs were placed in a lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight division and were judged in those divisions, then were judged all together.
The university's pigs were champions in the crossbred middleweight, the purebred middleweight and the purebred overall competitions.
The 6-month-old pigs were evaluated on their readiness for the market industry. During each competition, the swine were judged on "consistency in leanness, muscle and size," Hoge said.
The pigs were walked by students and faculty, while being judged. "We had to keep the pigs in a group. The judges also looked for uniformity," Edwards said.
Preparation for the show began a year ago, when students selected the boars that would provide the semen, then the semen that would create the best pigs.
While raising the swine, students evaluated them and narrowed the group of 36 down to 18 pigs that had the most potential of winning the show. According to Hoge, if a pig was "too heavy, too small or had an inconsistent structure compared to the others, that pig was not chosen for the show."
"Fortunately, none of our pigs had any ailments, but it was very difficult to keep them consistent," Hoge said.
Once the 18 pigs were chosen, the students took special care of them. "We handfed them a high protein diet, exercised them every evening and clipped and washed them to make sure they looked good."
According to Alan Snedegar, manager of the Swine Research and Teaching Center, only three students went to the show, but there were about 20 students who helped raise the pigs.
For example, about 10 students helped Croner, Edwards and Hoge with chores while they were away. And during the week of the competition, Luke Rahe maintained the farm. "It was very important for him to be there and to the day to day chores," Edwards said.
In addition, nine other MSU students participated in the show as judges. They were not judging, however, they were being judged. According to Croner, the students practiced judging pigs and were rated on how they judged.
LIST OF IN STATE STUDENTS INVOLVED
Berrien Springs
Luke Rahe, junior animal science major, son of Bruce and Martha Rahe.
Burlington
Tracy Wieas, junior animal science major, daughter of Darrell and Kathy Wieas.
Charlotte
Megan Wheaton, senior agribusiness management major, daughter of Lee and Denise Wheaton.
Coopersville
Louisa Buersma, animal science major, son of Cork and Rhonda Buersma.
Dorr
Kim Vanderkolk, junior animal science major, daughter of Carl and Gail Vanderkolk.
Mason
Jody Emens, junior animal science major, daughter of Coe and Jeanne Emens.
Mike Hogberg, junior animal science major, son of Maynard and Ann Hogberg.
Sarah Rust, junior animal science major, daughter of Steve and Laura Rust.
Mikado
Shawn Kronner, senior animal science major, son of Kevin and Mary Kronner.
Reading
Sean Engel, senior animal science major, son of Tom and Carol Engel.
Waldron
Jackie Leupp, animal science junior major, daughter of William and Julie Leupp.
LIST OF OUT OF STATE STUDENTS INVOLVED
ILLINOIS
Cambridge
Mark Hoge, animal science doctoral student, son of Dan and Deana Hoge.
Charleston
Bryan Metzger, junior animal science major, son of Michael and Delores Metzger.
Macomb
Cody Louderman, animal science major, son of Jack and Sherry Louderman.
Stewardson
Brandon Ogle, junior animal science major, son of Dennis and Cathy Ogle.
INDIANA
Gaston
Nick Mauck, junior animal science major, son of Mike and Connie Mauck.
IOWA
Gilbert
Dave Edwards, animal science master's student, son of William and Jane Edwards.
OHIO
Bloomingburg
Jason Bihl, senior animal science major, son of Steve and Jeannie Bihl.
PUERTO RICO
Guaynabo
Juliana Perez, animal science master's student, son of Marcelo and Marta Perez.