Columbia, MO, August 24, 2021—Almost 40 hogs from across the state were entered in the Growth & Quality Barrow Classic at the 2021 Missouri State Fair. The Classic was sponsored by the Missouri Pork Association, University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
The overall winner went to Gunner Bolinger from Boone County for his Duroc barrow weighing 321 lbs. and a 0.576 FFLG lb. per day. Everett Forkner from Vernon County received second with a Crossbred barrow weighing 312 lbs. and a 0.527 FFLG lb/d. The Overall Grand Champion winner received $560 in prize money and the Reserve Champion received $270 in prize money. Additional prize money was awarded to the top ten carcass placings.
The purpose of the Growth & Quality Barrow Classic is to promote and recognize the pork industry in Missouri; supply quality carcass evaluation information to producers; recognize the carcass qualities which the industry desires and to promote the economical performance trait of lean gain per day.
Participants signed up for the contest in March through an intent to participate form. A birthweight is recorded at this time. Barrows are then weighed and tattooed at the Missouri State Fair. All barrows are evaluated on three main categories: 1) visual appraisal, 2) fat-free lean gain and 3) pork quality. They are measured for 10th rib fat and loin muscle at the time of weigh-in by a certified technician. Immediately following the live show, barrows are loaded for processing and evaluated for carcass quality which includes color, pH, marbling and tenderness. This year, barrows were processed at the University of Missouri Meat Laboratory in Columbia, Missouri.
The Missouri Pork Association represents the state’s pork producers in areas of promotion, research, education and public policy. For more information about this or any other programs of the Missouri Pork Association, go to www.mopork.com, or call the Missouri Pork Association Office at (573) 445-8375.
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