Whiteshire Hamroc, Biotronics, Inc. team up for genetic improvement

Whiteshire Hamroc, home to the largest U.S. registered purebred swine herd, recently invested in the technology and services of Biotronics, Inc., a company that provides ultrasound solutions for the genetic improvement of meat animals.

Whiteshire Hamroc has been using ultrasound for measurement of carcass traits in live animals since the early 1990s. Backfat depth and loin muscle area measurements are used in calculation of EPDs through NSR’s nightly STAGES genetic evaluation.

“The Biotronics, Inc. image and data collection technology will save our technicians time during the off test procedure,” says Mark Brubaker, Whiteshire Hamroc geneticist. Instead of entering individual animal information into a handheld unit, personnel will use a notebook computer equipped with the BioSoft Toolbox® II software program. In the past, scan technicians had used a track ball on the ultrasound console for measuring backfat depth and loin muscle area on site. The resulting values were then keyed into the handheld unit. Now, through a USB frame grabber, the loin cross sectional image will be saved in the BioSoft Toolbox® II program, along with the other animal information.

Soon thereafter, the images will be sent electronically to the Biotronics, Inc. laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for analysis. Image processing for Whiteshire Hamroc, estimated at 200 animals per week, will be carried out by the Swine Ultrasound Specialist at Biotronics, Inc., Kyle Schulte. Results will be available to Whiteshire Hamroc on the following business day. “We are excited about the accuracy advantages that centralized image processing will provide for us,” says Brubaker. “We are a multi-site system with up to three different ultrasound technicians, so statistically, it makes sense.” Schulte, who recently visited Whiteshire Hamroc to introduce the new technology to the company’s technicians, will continue providing image quality feedback.

For more information on Whiteshire Hamroc, visit www.whiteshirehamroc.com, and to learn more about Biotronics, Inc., go to www.biotronics-inc.com.

From Biotronics, Inc.

2011 NSR National Picture Judging Contest results

Each year, the National Swine Registry sponsors the National Picture Judging Contest. It is open to youth and adult participants, and includes divisions for 4-H, FFA and collegiate teams. The contest ran in the November/December 2010 issue of Seedstock EDGE and on the NSR website with entries due Feb. 1.

To download the contest classes and photos and read the official reasons, click here.

Here are the 2011 official results.


FFA Team Division (50 Teams)
2,000 Points Possible

1st Place • Total Score: 1,827
Fullerton FFA #3 • Fullerton, Neb.
Nolan Hoffman, Alyssa Hambleton, Ellie Lesiak, Kelly Steenson

2nd Place • Total Score: 1,800
Texhoma FFA Fighting Wombats • Texhoma, Okla.
Nick James, Sydni Yates, Sierra Burleson, Ryan Dahl
3rd Place • Total Score: 1,767
Fullerton FFA #5 • Fullerton, Neb.
Jolene Shotoski, Tyson Cunningham, Ethan Lesiak, Kurtis Knopp

4th Place • Total Score: 1,755
Holcomb FFA Team B • Holcomb, Kan.
Jeff Eckert, Jesus Maeias, Brice Elliott, Tucker Peterson
5th Place • Total Score: 1,749
Sterling FFA #6 • Sterling, Okla.
Jarrett Davis, Heath Curry, Jacob Quickle, Carli Carmon

4-H Team Division (16 Teams)2,000 Points Possible

1st Place • Total Score: 1,892
Marion County 4-H #1 • Mt. Vernon, Ill.
Adrian Austin, Kane Austin, Brad Braddock, Caleb Staples
2nd Place • Total Score: 1,804
Henry Stark Team 2 • Galva, Ill.
Adam Gradert, Lucas Wisnefski, Sydney Wisnefski, Jon Walker
3rd Place • Total Score: 1,789
Henry Stark Team 1 • Galva, Ill.
Tyler Gradert, Elizabeth Heaton, Sawyer Shattuck, Kalie Rumbold
4th Place • Total Score: 1,761
River Oaks 4-H • Lowell, Wis.
Brandon Justmann, Jacob Justmann, Morgan Justmann, Christopher Justmann
5th Place • Total Score: 1,646
Redwood Valley/Calpella Team D • Redwood Valley, Calif.
Tyler Ault, Kyle Rogers, Nick Satterwhite, Charlie Lucchesi

College Team Division (15 Teams)2,500 Points Possible

1st Place • Total Score: 2,314
Black Hawk East #6 • Galva, Ill.
Chance Willard, Ty Webster, Willie Weis, Andrew Stockdale, Kaleiah Gasperi
2nd Place • Total Score: 2,309
Black Hawk East #4 • Galva, Ill.
Tyler Stutsman, Sam Mattingly, Jacee May, Tyler Rumbolt, Matt Morrison
3rd Place • Total Score: 2,308
Illinois Central College Blue • East Peoria, Ill.
Ashley Westall, Joe Fecht, David Eberley, Dalton Lorenzen, Joe Cochran
4th Place • Total Score: 2,291
Lake Land College #4 • Mattoon, Ill.
Kurt Berg, Jordan Rauch, Justin Schaal, James Schinbeckler, Carly Wesuer
5th Place • Total Score: 2,287
Illinois Central College Gold • East Peoria, Ill.
Amara Danner, Blaine Evans, Max Kocher, Jay Streitmatter, Travis Terhaar

Adult Individual Division (110 Contestants)500 Points Possible

1st Place • Total Score: 477
Kevin Wetovick • Fullerton, Neb.

2nd Place • Total Score: 472
Ty D. Keener • Churubusco, Ind.

3rd Place • Total Score: 471
Jon DeClerck • Ames, Iowa

4th Place • Total Score: 471
Larry Flint • Turpin, Okla.

5th Place • Total Score: 470
Merle Nickelson • Guymon, Okla.

College Individual Division (121 Contestants)500 Points Possible

1st Place • Total Score: 472
Dalton Lorenzen • East Peoria, Ill.

2nd Place • Total Score: 470
Joe Cochran • East Peoria, Ill.

3rd Place • Total Score: 470
Blaine Evans • East Peoria, Ill.

4th Place • Total Score: 470
Kaleiah Gasperi • Galva, Ill.

5th Place • Total Score: 470
Jon Heaton • Galva, Ill.

Junior Individual Division (392 Contestants)500 Points Possible

1st Place • Total Score: 483
Brad Braddock • Mt. Vernon, Ill.

2nd Place • Total Score: 472
Caleb Staples • Mt. Vernon, Ill.

3rd Place • Total Score: 471
Kane Austin • Mt. Vernon, Ill.

4th Place • Total Score: 470
Tyler Gradert • Galva, Ill.

5th Place • Total Score: 469
Tylor McGehee • Mt. Vernon, Ill.

Win a prize!


NJSA Raffle tickets are here! We have several great items this year donated by our awesome supporters.



You have the chance to win a one year’s lease of an Exiss trailer and a set of WW Paul Hog Scales. Get blinged out with two separate jewelry packages from AB Livestock, Whitney Hosier, and Cajun Bling - ladies these sets will have you sparkling! Amp up your home with a new painting from Neil Cattle Company and a rustic metal lamp courtesy of SJ Cattle & Creations. And if you are looking for a more professional approach, check out the leather padfolio that K Bar J Leather sponsored. Finally at the end of your long day at the show, relax with a game of miniature corn hole, courtesy of Brandon and Kaylee Miller. And again this year we have two hotel packages for your 2012 NJSS stay. The Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport and the Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Airport have offered a 4 night stay during your 2012 NJSS trip.


Coming soon! Check out the entire package at http://www.nationalswine.com/ click NJSA to go to the NJSA home page.


Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Contact the NJSA office at 765-463-3594 to purchase tickets or if you are interested in selling tickets. Tickets can also be purchased from the NJSA Junior Board of Directors and several NJSA members. Help support the NJSA in 2011 by purchasing a raffle ticket; you could walk away with an awesome prize!

Travel Scholarships Still Available for NYLC


If you are a first time attendee to the National Youth Leadership Conference there are still $200 travel scholarships available. Download your application at http://bit.ly/eleNd0 and email or fax it back to Sarah Schwab at sarah@nationalswine.com or fax 765-497-2959. Deadline is April 11, take advantage of an extra $200 to make the trip to Minneapolis!

The deadline for the National Youth Leadership Conference has been extended to Thursday April 7th. Any extended entries must be received via email, fax, or phone by Thursday 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. If you are interested in attending the NJSA leadership conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota April 29 through May 1 please contact Sarah Schwab at sarah@nationalswine.com, fax 765-497-2959, or phone 765-463-3594. We have an exciting conference planned, something you won't want to miss. Check out the full itenerary at http://bitly.com/eleNd0 and then make your plans to come join the NJSA in Minneapolis!