The American Berkshire Association Progeny Test is a time-honored tradition that marries genetic data and Berkshire breed improvement with a common mission amongst breeders to make Berkshire pigs and pork better with every progeny.

Lance Knobloch, Alvord, Iowa, owns and operates Fly'n K Berkshires. This family-run, registered Berkshire farm has been participating in the ABA Progeny Test for decades. Fly'n K Berkshires have had at least one top-tested sire in 7 of the past 8 progeny tests.

Here's why Lance participates in and has a passion for the ABA Progeny Test:
1. "For me to say I have high meat quality Berkshires, this is the only way to prove it in an unbiased format."
2. "It is not feasible to test for meat quality on a single farm."
3. "Get individual pig data back and learn how your sow lines are for meat quality. (only available to the owner of the pen on test)"
4. "To compare meat quality between different sires, all pigs on the test need to be grown at the same location and harvested the same."
5. "Be a part of something bigger than yourself and be able to improve your herd as well as the Berkshire breed as a whole and remain the best meat quality breed in the world."

The ideal breeding time frame for progeny test pens is September 10 - October 10.

Interested in participating in the progeny tests or have questions about getting started?

Contact:
Lance Knobloch, ABA Breed Improvement Committee Chair, at kance@alliancecom.net or 605-366-4385.

Cory Edge, Director of Berkshire Operations, at cory@americanberkshire.com or 765-602-3969.