The Importance of Progeny words by Mallorie Boggs
GLOSSARY Progeny (prog·e·ny): offspring of animals or plants
Progeny Test: a test of the worth of a sire or some times of a dam based on the performance of its early progeny : an evaluation of the genotype of an animal in terms of its offspring
Sire: the male parent of an animal and especially of a domestic animal
Dam: the female parent of an animal and especially of a domestic animal
Genotype (ge·no·type): all or part of the genetic constitution of an individual or group
View full Progeny Test glossary terms online in the Sire Summary. “Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America’s Most-Trusted Online Dictionary.” MerriamWebster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/.
Livestock producers pay attention to genetic pairing. Matching a sire with a specific dam gives the breeder a direct hand in making future generations better producers and better tasting. For Berkshires, the data gathered through progeny tests have given quantitative credibility to the slogan “superior taste to the discriminating dinners”. What: The American Berkshire Association (ABA) progeny test is designed after the Hormel NBS Progeny Test so that Berkshire breeders can continue building upon the meat quality EPD database that we have assembled over the last 24 years (1991 to 2015). The Progeny Test was originally developed as a tool for swine breeders to objectively identify genetically superior purebred sires in each breed using thorough and unbiased testing and evaluation. These include evaluations of carcass composition, growth performance, meat quality and eating quality. Currently, twelve measures of progeny performance are recorded on every pig that completes the testing period. The ABA Progeny Test remains the most extensive unbiased evaluation of progeny performance available to Berkshire breeders. Who: Any member of the ABA is welcome to enter registered Berkshire pigs. The ABA Progeny test wouldn’t be possible without ABA members, collaborators, and sponsors! When: The ABA Progeny Test is annually conducted. Breeders who are entered deliver their pigs to be tested in April. At the start of the test, pigs weigh on average 70 lbs and are fed until ideal market weight. Where: The progeny test is performed by Dr. Lindy Miller with LFM Quality Laboratories, Inc. in Terre Haute, Ind. How: The pigs are organized by breeder in pens of eight pigs sired by the same boar. Dr. Lindy Miller and associates collect various data using industry standards throughout the test. Why: The information that comes from the progeny test can be used in a breeders’ breeding and marketing program. This data is compiled and returned to participating breeders for use within their individual breeding or marketing program. Producers can use analytics in their future genetic pairings or to explain why Berkshire pork is superior when marketing their products. The tentative delivery date for the 2020 ABA Progeny Test is April 18. Please contact the ABA office for more information! • Experience Berkshire / 21
