Eye Test Quiz- The Answers

 OK so how do you think you did?

Before I list the answers I want to say thank you to Rachel at VanderBeck Farms in Waynestown Indiana. VanderBeck Farms is a family owned and family oriented farrow to weaning farm . They are truly “Real Pig Farmers”. They use commercially supplied Meishan semen to produce their own heat check and teaser boars. Often “grading up” 50% gilts by re-breeding them with Meishan semen again.The pictures and accurate percentages they provided were a vital part of making this post possible. Without Rachels generous cooperation this post just could not have happened. The VanderBecks love their cross Meishans and care for them impeccably.

Other pictures were actual submissions from people wanting their pigs considered. Some other pictures were supplied by members of the A.M.B.A. . Finally some pictures were taken from public web and social media pages. Lets take a  look at those 18 pictures again:

    Caveat Emptor: We are going to take a break from answers to talk a bit about the light and dark side of the A.M.B.A.’s genetic recovery efforts. We have been gratified that so many people have come forward sincerely sharing with us their submissions.We that feel for the overwhelming majority of these submissions their belief  in the purity of their animals is genuine.  And we have diligently tracked every submission using the information the owners are able to provide. Even when red flag terms like “rescue” or “exotic animal auction” are given. One of the above submissions chain of custody (or source pigs) was tracked from their breeder in Colorado,to a breeder in Montana, to a breeder in Iowa,to an exotic animal auction in Missouri to an exotic animal broker in Texas. It took several weeks, and many phone calls, but in the end the exotic animal broker in Texas has not been cooperative in providing the source of their original “Meishans”. And without that link in the chain of custody we cannot move forward. While almost all of submissions seem straight forward others have drifted from murky to downright dishonest. One submitter when asked to provide pictures of the parents of their pigs sent me a photo of two Illinois gilts claiming one was the damn and one was the boar sire. How did I know they were both Illinois gilts? Because I own them.Yes someone submitted to me pictures of my own pigs .When asked “are those your pigs” the submitter quickly recanted and said the picture was mistakenly submitted. In any case other than a second hand “petting zoo” reference there was no traceable chain of custody given. That breeder today however advertises they have “Iowa Lines”. In another case a submitter claimed they personally  obtained their sow from USDA. They made this statement directly to me on the phone and confirmed it when asked again directly.When I pointed out that the lack of ear notches,improper tagging and other issues indicated that the pig could not have come from the USDA Meat Animal Research Facility that submitter was insistent.Even when I pointed out that I knew exactly where their sow came from because the previous owner had told me they had sold it to them the owner refused to recant. Later several screen shots were sent to me by A.M.B.A.members documenting conflicting(and inaccurate) claims about the same sow from the same person. In real estate they frequently use a term ” Caveat Emptor”. That is Latin for “Let the Buyer Beware”  referring to the dangers of accepting seller claims at face value. Unfortunately livestock sales have their  seedier sides also.

Lets finish the answers with the final two pictures.

With 18 different pictures how did you actually do using only the eye test? Did you get all 18 right? Did you get 10 right? How about 5 right? Like I said its a game without consequence for the breed unless you are talking about using the eye test for admission into the pedigree database. That could allow for the irrevocable contamination of last known pure Meishan genetics.

Remember these were pictures of  pigs with as little as 25% Meishan genetics in them. They were crossed with white pigs,black pigs,white pigs with black spots,red pigs,pigs with floppy ears pigs with erect ears but still the Meishan genetics were visually dominant. There simply is no eye test for purity. 

We have taken great care to respect the privacy of the submitters. We will continue to receive and investigate requests for consideration in the registry. But we need to know accurately ,with confirmation,where your pigs came from.Where your breeder got his or her pigs ,  until we arrive at the source research facility. And we need at least a two generation pedigree for any pigs to enter the A.M.B.A. online pedigree database.Because without some accurate ideas on levels of inbreeding a genetically healthy herd cannot be maintained. In the meantime our inability to track chain of custody on any Meishan or Meishan influenced pig isnt meant to degrade that animal. Take your cue from VanderBeck farms and love your floppy eared pigs .They are something special. Being in the registry is not the final stamp of purity. But it is the assurance of an accurate pedigree breeders need to move forward with the cataloging and preservation of Meishan Pigs in North America.

There is value in membership.

Sincerely,

Rico Silvera

President

American Meishan Breeders Association