Swine

Attention Livestock Exhibitors: Quality Assurance Requirements

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Quality Assurance is an annual requirement of the Ohio Department of Agriculture for youth taking livestock projects to county and state fair. In Fairfield County, Quality Assurance Training is required for all members who will be exhibiting a livestock project at the Fairfield County Fair or Junior Exhibitor at the Ohio State Fair. Beef (Breeding & Market); Dairy Breeding, Dairy Steers, & Dairy Feeders; Goats (Dairy, Meat, Market & Pygmy); Poultry (Breeding & Market); Sheep (Breeding & Market); Swine; Rabbits (Breeding & Market), and Alpacas/Llamas.

Deadlines for 2025:

  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Ohio State Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 1st, 2025.
  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Fairfield County Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 30th, 2025.

At this time, Quality Assurance CANNOT be taught by club/chapter advisors to Fairfield County 4-H/FFA youth virtually (i.e. Zoom, Google Hangouts, Google Classrooms, Facebook Live, etc.).

Here are the acceptable options to complete Quality Assurance in 2025:

  • In-Person 4-H Club/FFA Chapter Clinic taught by a 4-H/FFA Advisor who has completed the Quality Assurance Assistant Instructor Training this year. Advisors who attended this training will notify their members of their club/chapter QA Clinic date and will be responsible for getting all QA paperwork submitted to the Extension Office by the appropriate deadlines.
  • In-Person Countywide Make-Up Clinics: To be held on Thursday, May 1st from 6:30-8:30 p.m. or Tuesday, May 20th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Fairfield County Ag Center/Extension Office (831 College Ave. Lancaster). An RSVP is required. Please click here to register for a countywide QA makeup clinic.
  • In-Person Beef Quality Assurance: Members who complete an in-person BQA taught by a certified BQA instructor must submit documentation to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.
  • In-Person Pork Quality Assurance: Members who complete an in-person PQA taught by a certified PQA advisor must submit documentation to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu. Youth MUST be age 14 or older (current age) to complete in-person PQA. Youth will receive a PQA certification number from the National Pork Board upon completion.
  • Online: Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). This is the ONLY approved ONLINE Quality Assurance Program for youth in Ohio. For 2025, this web-based course has been approved by ODA for 8-18 year olds.
    • Go to  https://yqcaprogram.org/ for the training and quiz.
    • Instructions for using the new website can be found at: 2022 YQCA Website Instructions
    • Exhibitors must complete by June 30, 2025 or they will not be able to show at the Fairfield County Fair.
    • You will need to select the web-based training ($12.00 per member, annually). The age of the course should be age as of January 1st of the current year.
    • When you are finished, please send a pdf/picture of your certificate which includes exhibitor name(s) and certificate number(s) to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.

Swine Youth Opportunity: Ohio Spot Breeders Donor Gilt Program – due 4/15/2025

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The Ohio Spot Breeders, in order to promote the advancement of the breed, will give up to five 4-H or FFA members a Spotted Gilt.  Recipients of donor gilts must show the gilt at the 2025 Ohio State Fair in the Donor Gilt class and in the Junior Spot Show.  Recipients must carry the gilt as a breeding project in their organization.  Recipients must also breed the gilt to a registered Spot boar for the first breeding and farrow at least one litter of purebred spots.  This litter is to be registered with the National Spotted Swine Record with the Certified Purebred Swine Association.  The Ohio Spot Breeders will try to assist any of the recipients with breeding, either by providing semen or breeding service when possible.  If the student does not fulfill the contract, they will pay the donor $250.

To qualify for a donor gilt, an applicant must submit an application.  The student must be in 4-H or FFA and carry the appropriate project through their local county. 4-H members must carry the Swine Breeding Project #140. The application must be filled out completely, contain pictures of where the gilt will be kept, and submit an essay on the topic “Why I want to own a Spot Gilt.”  Applications must be signed by the student, parent, and an advisor.

All applications must be received by April 1st.  Applications will be judged and the donor or a representative from the Ohio Spot Breeders will contact each possible winner. Final winners will be notified no later than April 15th and all gilts must be picked up by May 1st.  It is the responsibility of the student to pick the gilt up at the donor’s farm.

Donor gilts will be eligible to show in the donor gilt class and the junior show at the Ohio State Fair.  Any offspring of the original donor gilt will be eligible to show in the donor gilt class the following year.

Recipients will receive a free membership to the Ohio Spot Breeders and the National Spotted Swine Record (junior membership).

Any questions can be directed to:

Liz Hall

7960 Snodgrass Rd

Fletcher, OH 45326

937-570-9732

ohiodonorspotgilt@gmail.com

Spot Donor Gilt Application

Youth Opportunity: Junior Swine Day is March 29, 2025 (registration required)

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Exciting news for all show pig families! Join us for the 2025 Junior Swine Day on Saturday, March 29, at Marysville High School. This one-day event by the Ohio Pork Council and OH-Pigs Program is perfect for youth ages 5+ and their parents looking to level up in the show ring.

Get your tickets today to attend sessions on animal nutrition, showmanship, biosecurity, and more. Plus, receive your Quality Assurance Training for the year and make valuable connections with other show pig families.

Your $5 admission gives you the opportunity to learn from show pig experts on a variety of topics, a warm and tasty lunch, and a special gift for youth attendees.

If you have any questions, reach out to Education Director, Kayli Mitchell, at kmitchell@ohiopork.org. We hope to see you there! Click here for tickets.

MQP Applications for Goats, Swine and Lambs are Due by April 15, 2025

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Apply by April 15th!

Entries for the 2025 Fairfield County Jr. Fair Goat, Swine, and Lamb MQP programs are now being accepted. Again this year all MQP entries will be accepted on-line and must be submitted by April 15, 2025.

Please note that some of the important MQP details have changed as follows:

  • Goats for the MQP contest must be owned by May 17, 2025 and will be weighed-in on that date at the Fairgrounds. After 99 days on feed the Goat MQP contest will conclude at the Fairgrounds on Sunday, August 24, 2025. NEW for this year, female goats may now be entered in MQP, and there is no minimum weight requirement at harvest. Go here for the Goat MQP application.
  • Lambs for the MQP contest must be owned by June 28, 2025 and will be weighed at the Fairgrounds on that date. After 65 days on feed the MQP lambs will be brought back to the Fairgrounds for the conclusion of the contest on September 1, 2025, which – NEW for this year – is Labor Day Monday. Go here for the Lamb MQP application.
  • Barrows or gilts for MQP must be owned by June 28, 2025 and will be weighed this year at the Fairgrounds on that date. After 71 days on feed the MQP pigs will return to the Fairgrounds for the contest conclusion on September 7, 2025. NEW for this year, only two pigs may be weighed/tagged in for MQP and these pigs may not be used for the “live” show at the Fair. Go here for the Swine MQP application.

Applications for any of these contests must be received on-line by April 15, 2025. Find more details about MQP here: https://go.osu.edu/mqp

Swine Exhibitors: Virtual Show Pig Conference

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This free resource could be a HUGE benefit to your 4-H advisors and 4-H members. This year the Ohio Pork Council is sponsoring and providing really awesome opportunities – A FREE virtual showpig conference for show pig families, and the show pig community. This event is held through Ring Central, a virtual online conference platform (think in person conference, only online).  

How it works:  The live conference is all free!  Individuals sign up for their free ticket, at www.showpigconference.com   The conference will feature over twenty speakers who are excited to help youth and their families learn and succeed.  Attendees will be able to listen to mainstage speakers, breakout group sessions, enter virtual expo booths, and ask show pig experts the questions that they have always wanted answered.  If individuals and families are unable to attend live, we have options for them as well.  

See flyer below for more information. Furthermore, check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100074877937078 

If you have any questions please reach out.   

Ryan Kline    

www.showpigconference.com

330-317-4104

Livestock Tagging/Weighing and MQP Dates for 2025

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Get the tagging and weigh-in dates on your calendar.

The good news is . . . participation in livestock projects remains strong while muscle quality and performance carcass-based project participation continues to grow in Fairfield County. The rest of the good news is, although there will be a few changes, plans continue to accommodate all the livestock project participation that is being experienced. That said, for the most part weigh-in/tagging dates, as well as harvest dates will remain similar in 2025 to what they were in 2024.

The changes being considered involve the Beef Performance & Carcass Quality (BPCQ), Swine MQP and Goat MQP programs.

A third, optional, early harvest date for participants in the BPCQ is being added for those youth with early born calves who would like to conclude their carcass-based project in August. The youth participating in the August harvest will weigh/tag their BPCQ calves on February 1. The two later September beef harvest dates will also be maintained and calves being harvested then will be weighed/tagged along with the ‘live’ beef cattle on March 8. Youth had the opportunity to apply for BPCQ with an application deadline for the 2025 BPCQ contest of January 8, 2025 and on a first come, first served basis select their preferred harvest date.

Swine MQP will be considering two changes. First change being considered is pigs will be weighed/tagged in specifically for either the MQP or ‘live’ show. The pigs for each contest will be Continue reading Livestock Tagging/Weighing and MQP Dates for 2025 →

Scholarship Opportunity: Pork Industry Scholarships – due 12/13/2024

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Calling all college students! Applications for the 2025 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship are now open.

Ten $2,500 scholarships are awarded each year to college students who intend to pursue a career in the pork industry. Any undergraduate student enrolled in a two-year swine program or four-year college of agriculture may apply. Applications are due December 13, 2024. Find more details here.

Graduate students committed to a future in the pork industry quality to apply for the 2025 Neil Dierks Scholarship. Applications are due December 31, 2024. Find more details here.

Source: showpig.com Newsletter 11/8/2024

You’re invited – Jr. Fair Swine Exhibitor Meeting: November 21st

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Sent on behalf of Fairfield County Junior Fair Swine Superintendents:

Junior Fair Swine Exhibitors and 4-H/FFA Advisors,

As a Fairfield County Junior Fair swine exhibitor family, the Junior Fair Swine Superintendents are inviting you to come and talk about the 2024/2025 Swine Shows on Thursday, November 21st, 2024, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Fairfield County Ag Center/OSU Extension Office. We hope that you can join us at this open meeting!

Scholarship Opportunity: Neil Dierks Scholarship (Pork Industry) due 12/31/2024

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One $5,000 scholarship is annually awarded to a student who intends to pursue a career in the pork industry with hopes that they may emerge as a future pork industry leader.

Essays will be judged based on clarity and expression, persuasiveness, originality and relevance to the topic. All entries must be sent by December 31, 2024 to be accepted.

Please submit your application either through the online form, email to russelll@nppc.org or send materials in a single envelope to:
National Pork Producers Council

ATTN: Neil Dierks Scholarship
P.O. Box 10383
Des Moines, IA 50306-9960

Drug Use Notification Forms – due at NOON, Friday, October 4th for Market Beef/BEEF FEEDERS/DAIRY MARKET STEERS/Dairy Beef Feeders/Lactating Dairy Cows & Dairy Goats/Market Hogs/Market Goats/Market Lambs

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Animals must be drug free by weigh-in day of fair. Each member must complete a Drug Use Notification Form (DUNF) (http://go.osu.edu/fairfielddunf) form online for each animal they plan to exhibit prior to weigh-in at the fair. If the forms are not correctly completed, exhibitors will not be permitted to show. The link to the form will open on Monday, September 30th (as forms should be completed more than 5 days before fair weigh-in).

  • Animals requiring a DUNF indicating the animal is free from any/all drugs in its system on fair weigh-in/move-in day are:
    • Market Beef
    • NEW FOR 2024: BEEF FEEDER
    • NEW FOR 2024: DAIRY MARKET STEER
    • Dairy Beef Feeder
    • Dairy Cow (lactating)
    • MQP Hog
    • Market Barrow
    • Market Gilt
    • Market Goat
    • MQP Goat
    • Dairy Goat (lactating)
    • Market Chickens
    • Market Turkey
    • Market Duck
    • MQP Lamb
    • Market Lamb
    • Market Rabbit
  • Forms should be completed no sooner than 5 days prior to animal weigh-in to be sure that their animal is drug free during fair.
  • Forms submitted prior to that timeframe will be deleted and exhibitors will be asked to resubmit the DUNF form closer to their animal’s weigh-in. All animals being brought to the fair requiring DUNF forms will need to submit their forms by 12:00 p.m., Friday, October 4, 2024.
  • The only EXCEPTION to the Friday deadline will be Market Poultry and Market Rabbits who will complete DUNF Forms AFTER they receive tags/leg bands so they have identification information to enter into the DUNF Form. One form per pen of animals should be completed for Poultry and Rabbits. Deadline for poultry and rabbit exhibitors is MIDNIGHT on Saturday, October 5th.
  • Animals tagged with an EID 840 (15 digit tag) should include the last 6 digits in the identification field of the form.
  • Scrapie Tag numbers DO NOT need to be entered for market goats and market sheep – please use the last 6 digits of your EID 840 tag.
  • There should be ONE form submitted for each animal Exception: Each pen of rabbits and each pen of market chickens will need a form per pen.
  • Turkeys exhibitors will put N/A in the identification field.
  • Market Chicken exhibitors will put all 3 leg band numbers in the same identification field for their pen of chickens.
  • Market Rabbit exhibitors will put both tag numbers for their pair of rabbits in the identification field for their pen of rabbits.