I had a great week of looking at hogs in the western corn belt. I stop by Penner Genetics, John has a great set of York’s started that is sired by his herd boar call Vision (Buffalo son) the 140 and 144 litters looked really good. The 141 and 147 Hampshire litter looked very promising. Both litters were sired by Augusta. Give John or Kyle a call for more information.

I also stopped by A Cut Above Sires and Hirschfeld Livestock while in Nebraska. If your serious about making Hampshire’s better you need to consider using Hats Off (Sterling silver x Witness). He is a heavy structured big footed, wide constructed hamp boar that is sound. Big Star and Benchmark 2 looked great as well. The December born pigs in the nursery looked like they were of to a great start. The 86 litter sired by Trump This looked awesome and the 4 litter of Hamp’s out of Hats Off should be competive.

I made a swing thru Southern South Dakota and stopped by Olsen’s, Nelson’s and Rasmussen’s. Chuck and Ben have a great set of hogs on feed for Belton. There is a Benchmark boar there that will turn some heads when he is unloaded at the show. They have a really good boar sired by T Rex that should be competitive at the show too. Wow is all I have to say about their herd boar line up. If your in the Irene area you need to stop by and take a look.

I have a great time at Nelson Bros Durocs. Ron had a good set of hogs on feed for Belton that will in the hunt. They are sure by Hensey who sired their high selling boar at Duncan this fall. There is a 174 litter York barrow in the nursery sired by Back Tracks that would make a great Expo barrow for someone, give Ron a call on this one.

Robert Rasmussen’s is a great place to look at hogs that are fundamentally correct. His Belton entry sired by Mac (Augusta x Model T) looked really good. Plus he has a great set of Chesters on feed to.

I finished my week in North Iowa making stops at Eddie Farms, Wayne Huinkers, Huinker Durocs Ltd., and Stewart’s Duroc Farm. Wayne had a great set of pigs started out of his herd sire Ruff Neck, who is a littermate to his popular 2011 NBS Hog College gilt. This guy looks to be doing a great job and needs to be used more.

John’s hers boars are always a real treat to look at. He has a true set of breeding hogs to work with. Asia is doing a great job and Hype has had an outstanding fall. He sired the Res Duroc at the NWSS in Denver and the Res Overall at the NJSA Southeastern Regional in GA.

Doug’s set of November and December gilts that will sell Feb 20th on www.nsr-buyerschoiceauction.com will be competitive! If you are serious about showing a good Duroc gilt, look at this set. They are sire by Meatpacker, Integrity (Purple Power) and Crown Royal (LVS). Doug your Meatpacker boar headed to Belton looks great, good luck with him.

I hope you all have a great weekend, look for more Notes From The Road next week.