Columbia, Mo.,—Over 30 hogs from across the state were entered in the Growth & Quality Barrow Classic at the 2023 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 Sawyer Bolinger from Boone County for a Duroc barrow weighing 307 lbs. and a 0.642 FFLG lb. per day. Morgan Baker from Cooper County received second with a Poland China barrow weighing 316 lbs. and a 0.59 FFLG lb. per day. The Overall Grand Champion winner received $1,006 in prize money and the Reserve Champion received $587 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, visit www.mopork.com, or call (573) 445-8375.
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