The pork quality competition is an event that celebrates excellence in pork production by recognizing the best of the best. A highlight of Prairie Livestock Expo, hog producers compete for the title of grand champion – the carcass with the perfect combination of meat quality traits and measurements. 
Since 1996, hog producers and sponsors have donated $442,000 to international, national, rural and urban charities such as hospitals and children’s organizations. Also having donated 152,000 lbs — over 68,000 kgs of the world’s finest quality pork to Manitoba food banks for less fortunate families in need during Christmas, a continuing good news story.   
On December 14, in Winnipeg, MB. the Starlite Colony of Starbuck, MB. won the grand champion carcass with a score of 101 out of 111 possible points awarded by carcass competition judge Jason Care of Manitoba Hog Grading. In addition, the colony donated the prize money of $5000 to the charity of their choice Heart of Truth which equips the Christian Workers’ Society of Canada.  
Of the winning carcass, the sow genetics is Topigs Norsvin and the boar is a PIC800 boar sire.  
Care who judged the competition said the best score for any carcass is 111 points based on the strict guidelines for the measurements in grading the pork.  
“The criteria is set up based on the best market hog that we are selling on the market for example a premium hog, going to Japan,” said Care.  
It’s a measure of back fat. The bang on target is 16 to 17 millimetres, a loin that’s preferably over 60 to 70 millimetres. Also, consider the square surface area of the loin and how fat. A camera judges the colour of the carcass, plus a combination of the weight. These guidelines are very narrow. 
Trevor and Theodore Hofer, the two young hog men accepting the trophy on behalf of the Starlite Colony said there is nothing different in how they treat the two entry hogs picked a week before the competition date other than tender loving care.  
“You treat them with gentle care on the days that you select them, and then you make sure to look after them properly,” said Trevor. “You can watch them for the week as they grow to get the right width, and then you just look at the lines and hope for the best.” 
Theodore said as he held on to the sizeable trophy, “Shoot. I don’t know what I feel. It’s not a feeling that I expected. It’s just something different that comes over you in a moment like this. I don’t know how to describe it.” 
He’s worked in hog barns since he could walk.  
“Since our dad took us to the barn to get us out of our mom’s hands. Just take us to the barn and make us work.” 
Theodore said they normally put in more effort but selected the nicest pigs this year.  
“And if you’re in hogs long enough, you know what a nice pig looks like. And big loin, got weight, and if you can see the shadow of the pig’s loin, there’s a shadow inside the loin and on the back, then you know it’s got a big one.” 

Jason Care, the judge for this year’s event said the industry committee met two years ago and reset the standards to suit the market and the packer for heavier market hogs.  
“It’s just that these guys are willing; they come, they enter, and they donate all this prize money to different charitable organizations.” 
This year they donated over 2,414 kgs of fresh pork split up between Winnipeg Harvest and Siloam Mission.  
“We have a display cooler of just over 108 kgs of fresh pork in crown roast, and that’s all going to Siloam Mission. So, yeah, it’s a win-win scenario for everybody,” said Care. 
Second place and the reserve grand champion trophy and $4000 went to Woodland Colony and the charity Portage Hospital Foundation with third place and $3000 going to Boundary Lane Colony and the charity Heart Team.
The remaining top ten placements were: fourth Waldheim Colony $2000 their chosen charity was Muscular Dystrophy; fifth to Millshof Colony $1500 to the Heart Team & Stars; sixth to Boundary Lane $1000 also to the Heart Team; seventh to Starlite Colony $1000 to Heart of Truth; eighth to Northern Breeze Colony $1000 to Stars, ninth to New Haven S $1000 to Cancer Care MB and Heart & Stroke and in tenth was Ridgeland Colony $1000 to St. Anne Hospital Fund. Congratulations to all the winners. •
— By Harry Siemens