A delegation from the People’s Republic of China visited the National Barrow Show in Austin Tuesday.

Wednesday, September 15, 1999

A delegation from the People’s Republic of China visited the National Barrow Show in Austin Tuesday.

Also, the first of four purebred breeds of hogs went before the judges and auctioneers.

Meanwhile, there were nine yard sale signs outside the entrance to the Mower County Fairgrounds.

In other words, it was business as usual at the 53rd annual "World Series of Swine Shows."

Chinese delegation

A team from the People’s Republic of China strolled through the hog barns and watched the action at Crane Pavilion Tuesday.

The team from Beijing’s Ministry of Agriculture is visiting the United States under the Scientific and Technical Exchange Agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and People’s Republic of China.

Alma Bowman, the China program coordinator for the USDA’s research and scientific exchange division, praised hosts Hormel Foods Corporation and the National Barrow Show, saying, "Without the assistance of people like you, such a program would not be possible."

The team members included Chen Weisheng, consultant, senior animal specialist, animal production division, Bureau of Animal Production and Health, as well as He Zhiping, assistant research fellow, swine research institute, Academy of Animal Science of Sichuan Province; Liu Wanghong, assistant animal specialist, breeding swine testing center, Central China Agricultural University; and Chen Jinqiang, interpreter and animal specialist, general affairs division, Bureau of Animal Production and Health, Ministry of Agriculture.

The objectives of the team members are to discuss the establishment and management of the breeding swine testing systems, including regulations related to the operation of testing stations and technical methods and standards by collaborating with their U.S. counterparts.

Today, the Chinese delegation is visiting Iowa State University at Ames, Iowa and touring an Iowa hog farm.

Seeing $-signs

Last year, a Yorkshire boar owned by Lorenzen Farms, Chrisman, Ill., sold for $31,000 at the NBS.

The Hog College champion boar was the highest selling hog at the 1998 show. It was purchased by Prairie State, Champaign, Ill.

Will there be a hog that can top that this year on the final day of the NBS?

Premier Sire awards and the sale of prize-winning boars and gilts are the focus of attention on the last day of the NBS.

Yesterday, it was Spotted, Yorkshire, Hampshire and Poland China hogs that attracted attention.

Today, the four other purebred breeds, Berkshire, Landrace, Berkshire and Duroc are in the spotlight.

And, always the nation’s pork producers have dollar-signs i their eyes as they seek ways to solidify their pork operations in a shaky industry.

Last year, the 1998 NBS sales results showed 333 hogs auctioned for a total of $375,070 or an average of $1,126 per hog.

But, what has a year of plummeting prices done to the pork industry? Stay tuned. Today’s NBS sales could tell.

(Editor’s Note: National Barrow Show and Premier Sire are registered trademarks of the sponsors of the show, Hormel Foods Corporation and National Association of Swine Records.)