2014 Houston Grand Barrow Clones

[WSG]

Is there really a whole barn of them out there? I would think that would be awfully pricy! Also why would they only sell 3 of them to studs but have a whole barn full? Just curious. Thanks

[luxie]

I have been told there are 10.

[blattnershowpigs]

I have told there was originally about 20 of them.. but Grady cut it down to 10-12 is also what I have been told. Of course this is hear say and not coming from Mr. Grady himself. Yeah it costs a lot of money but that isn't a worry for that gentlemen.

[Darin]

Sorry, I don't see how Show Pig Industry and Mother Nature are in the same sentence. Cloning may be the extreme for now, but more technology will be on the way.

Gene therapy. DNA editing. Custom made.

[luxie]

All in the name of greed

[buckibri]

Can I ask who is Grady?

Probably simplistic for some but I am not inclusive in the higher levels of show pigs. Just curious.

And to add to the genetic questions, CRISPR Cas, and RNAi, plus Parental RNAi are exceptionally promising technologies. I would not be one to deny feeding the world and improving health care in areas of cancer, autism, and Alzheimer's cures.

[blattnershowpigs]

I wouldn't say its all in the name of greed for him to clone that many. He was a dang good hog and can help the industry continue to move forward. Some might call it greed but to me the man made an excellent business decision! If I could have done it too I would, and I think most of us would have.... And Grady is the father whos daughter won Houston 2014. He is and oil guy who also has race horses and other things, seems to be a really good guy but I don't really know him personally that well.

[Lpigs]

Confused by the greed comment. What is wrong with seeing an oppurtunity to make some money and jumping on it? It's legal and not hurting anybody. Seems strange to consider that greedy.

[luxie]

There have been a number of hogs cloned over the years. Name me one that has truly made an impact on the industry. I will give you the fact that these are clones of a barrow however the clones of boars that I know of have yet to produce like the originals. And once again I am only stating my opinion and views. I understand there is a market for the clones and I wish everyone involved with them and their offspring the best of luck.

[Darin]

There have been a number of hogs cloned over the years. Name me one that has truly made an impact on the industry. I will give you the fact that these are clones of a barrow however the clones of boars that I know of have yet to produce like the originals. And once again I am only stating my opinion and views. I understand there is a market for the clones and I wish everyone involved with them and their offspring the best of luck.

We used a fair amount of Buck Cherry back in the day. We later used his clones. They sired just like he did for us. The difference often times is in the person's perception of what the original used to sire like. The trend changes and shifts in a few years' time and memories of what hogs looked like shift as well. That's why it's fun sometimes to go back and look at old pics and video from hogs a few years ago. It's surprising sometimes how reality doesn't match your memory.

[HogDoc]

I'd agree with Darin. We used a fair amount of Super Monster and have used his clones. I'd say they sire pretty much just like he did. Of course the other thing that goes on is the other half of the mating is different.
I suspect a fair amount of the perceived difference in the way the clones sire has to do with the female and the changing trend. Back when the first cloned bulls were used I remember a lot of conversations where guys said they were suspicious so they weren't using the clone semen on their best cows. Then a year later the clone got blamed because the calves were not as good.

[Darin]

I was going to say the same thing about the cloned bulls. Very good point.

[SPRINGBRANCH]

I'd agree with Darin. We used a fair amount of Super Monster and have used his clones. I'd say they sire pretty much just like he did.

i was going to mention those clones, they have a great reputation and you can see that "Super Monster Look" in the offspring.

[mote]

Cloning is cheaper than you might think, especially if you look at the costs of things in the show pig world. With the numbers of progeny he received, I would bet the costs were less than $1,700 per live pig.

[swi]

For that matter, how can you put A.I. and Mother Nature in the same context. Cloning is as natural as luting a boar to get it to jump a dummy, getting it to collect into a bag, adding extenders, putting in a Fed Ex van to drive it 100's of miles to a gilt who was PG 'ed, then bred with a plastic rod. We are far from Mother Nature.