Beginning in January of 2019 (NSR Winter Type Conference and NJSA Southeast Regional), all breeding animals will be shown by age but will also have an official weight taken prior to exhibition. This weight will be utilized in the show catalogs and provided to judges for supplemental decisions. This change applies to all open boars and gilts and NJSA purebred junior gilts. NJSA purebred junior barrows, crossbred barrows, and crossbred gilts will still be required to submit a declared weight and weigh back during the animals respective class.
Boars tested prior to July 1, 2018 will be required to be retested by February 1, 2019 on the Breed Profile Test. If a boar passes the requirements, the percentage and the boar will be listed on the NSR website. If a boar fails, he will not have his pedigree pulled, but will not be able to record litters farrowed on or after June 1, 2019. The breeder, owner, buyer, and/or seller of these animals will be informed of the animal’s percentage.
Owners of Hampshire females will have the opportunity to test females through January 1, 2020 without consequences of having the animals pedigree pulled. This research time frame allows breeders and owners to determine where their respective females are in regards to breed composition. If a female is found to be a stress carrier or carrier of Non-Hampshire color, their pedigree will not be pulled, but the female will not be able to record litters moving forward.
Junior animals will not be disqualified from NJSA events utilizing the breed composition testing. Junior animals will still have to pass parentage, stress, and for Hampshire animals, Hampshire color. Breeders will be informed if a gilt has a breed composition issue, but no awards or recognition will be repealed based on an animals breed composition. This policy is active through January 1, 2021. Junior animals are not required to be tested to exhibit at an NJSA or NSR event.
For up to date information and resources regarding all breeds DNA policies please CLICK HERE.
With the growing concerns and perceptions surrounding influenza, the NSR Executive committee moved to accept a policy that all animals at NSR events are required to be vaccinated with two boosters for influenza. This is a change from the previous language which stated “it is highly recommended that all animals be vaccinated against influenza.” All health regulation changes and updates can be found on the NSR’s website.