SKILLATHON

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SKILLATHON

• NJSA Boot Camp 2009

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What is a Skillathon?

• Hands-on setting to share and test knowledge
  about show pig projects and the swine industry

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Contest Set-up

• 4 stations plus tie-breaker
• 25 points per station
• Each question 3-5 points
• One person at a time
• Other rules given at station

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What are questions about?

• Pedigrees
• PQA
• Ear notching
• Equipment ID
• Meat ID
• Feed ID
• Parts of a pig

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How to Study
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Materials

• Nationalswine.com
• NJSA Skillathon practice CD
• Skillathon Study Guide
• Parents and friends

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Starts at home

• Constantly learn
• Get into barn
• ASK QUESTIONS!
• Set aside time in weeks prior to show

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At show

• TOPICS GIVEN!
• Take study materials with you
• Study with friends to make it fun
• Hopefully will be a review not learning
  everything new
• Dont over-study

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Topics
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Pedigrees

• First and most important
• Look at pedigrees of own pigs
• Valuable station as showmen and breeder

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Pedigrees Cont
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Pork Quality Assurance (PQA)

• Wide variety of questions
• Where to give shots
• How to read a label
• Equipment used
• Learn more with Dr. Carr

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Ear notching

• Practice with your pigs and friends
• Draw

22-7
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Equipment ID

• Be aware in barn, farrowing house, or when
  showing
• Some very basic but also challenges

Needle teeth clippers
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Feeds

• Go to feed mill
• Get own practice samples
• Corn-minerals
• Know nutritional value (protein, mineral, etc.)

Soybean meal
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Parts of the Pig

• Find diagram
• Memorize but find fun tips or tricks to help you

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Meats

• Go to local meet counter
• Know what pork looks like
• Simple cuts, both retail and wholesale name

Butterfly chop
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Review

• Find the a way that works for you
• Constantly learn
• Opportunities for skillathon at other levels
• HAVE FUN