RWHA Newsletter
“Way Out West – July 2020”

“The RWHA has begun a project to transport registered or will be registered Red Wattles out west.” This was the headline and beginning of an article for the first attempt at an initiative to move genetics and Red Wattle pigs out west. There has been a lot of discussion and need to this day, but the move has really never got off the ground until this year.
A group of RWHA breeders have taken a big interest in sending pigs to the west this year. With the renewed concern and interest of these breeders for the preservation and growth of Red Wattle, the move west is going to happen. RWHA and these breeders are working together to co-ordinate the buyer/seller transactions, transportation and veterinary protocols to make this a safe and successful venture.
If you are interested in helping grow and preserve the Red Wattle but don’t have livestock to contribute, a donation to help defray the cost of transportation or health testing would be very helpful.
Your name will be included on a permanent “Web” plaque along with the names of the livestock contributors and recipients.
Please contact the RWHA Secretary for more details.
Mollie B. Smith-Steffey, Secretary
5249 North Park Place NE #1030
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
rwha@redwattle.com
276-880-1157

Hello everyone. I wanted to update some of what the board is working on. I have been talking with Doug at Mountain Niche. It has come to our attention that Doug has never been given a raise since he started with RWHA since it was created. This subject will be brought up at our next board meeting and the goal is to double his income per registration that is handled. This amounts to a $2.50 increase per handling. At the same time we expect to increase the handling rate by $2.50 to membership on each application and transfer to accommodate this increase as our rates to membership has also not increased and are on average less than many of the other heritage breeds. Along with this Doug has agreed to add a link for online membership application and payment, online registration applications and online transfers to the website. His goal is to have this complete by the end of March. All of this with a goal of a less than a month turnaround on paperwork. We feel this will be a great benefit to our membership and look forward to its completion. Any input is appreciated. Thanks
Marc Howe, President RWHA

The RWHA continues to move forward. One of our goals has been to streamline member services. Beginning in February our Web Master will start working on an online fill-out form to apply for RWHA membership. It will ask for the same information as the current application and will include access to the Member Area and a payment option. This may take several revisions to get it right, so be patient please.  

What does this mean for people looking buy Red Wattle hogs and for those that already own Red Wattles?
If you purchase a Red Wattle from Epic Nature or Ryan the registration papers can not be transferred to you. You will own a pig that can not be registered. If you are just looking for a few pigs to raise for meat you might not think registration is important. For those who want to raise Red Wattles to help preserve and enhance a once dying breed then registration of hogs with the Red Wattles Hog Association is very important. Why does registration really matter? Please read this article from the Livestock Conservancy , Why Registration Matters.
If you are not familiar with or need refreshed on the events that led up to this ban and the consequences that may effect you, the time line and the associated articles are listed below.

1. Membership Revoked September 9, 2022
2. Impact on Registered Breeding Stock
3. Epic Nature Flag Program November 18, 2022

Some have asked about AI. Here is a brief explanation of the supplies and procedure.

Supplies you will need:

• 2 doses semen
• 2 catheters
• 1 tube non-spermicidal lube
• Slightly wet/damp clean rag (no detergents or cleaners)

First step, if you are considering AI of your sow(s) or gilt(s), is to determine when their next heat will occur. You’ll have to observe them every day looking for signs of the onset of heat. Once signs of heat begin showing try putting back pressure on the pig with the palms of your hands as if the boar were mounting. If the pig “locks up” (stands rigid) she is in standing heat. Mark that day on a calendar. Do this procedure again to determine the number of days between standing heats. This is usually between 18 and 21 days. When the heat cycle is determined AI supplies can be ordered.

Ordering of the semen and supplies is done so that they arrive the day of expected heat or 1-3 days ahead. Just call the boar stud and let them know when the pig is expected to be in heat and they can determine the best delivery date.  Semen is shipped fresh not frozen, usually. Frozen swine semen loses about 50% of it’s motility compared to about 10% in fresh semen. Fresh semen will be viable for about 9 days if handled and stored properly. Keep the container the semen arrived in closed until ready for use. Store the container in a cool place, 61-65 F, 63 F is ideal. Gently turn the container over once each day to keep fresh extender around the spermatozoa.

When the day of insemination arrives and you’ve checked that the pig is in heat take one dose of semen, one catheter, lubricant and damp clean rag to the pig. Your job is to imitate the boar so she will stand and receive the AI. This may include back pressure, nudging flanks or vulva area and messaging udders.

First remove any debris from and near the vulva with the clean wet rag (no soap or cleaners, water only). Next put a generous amount of lubricant on the end of the catheter but do not cover the opening. Insert the catheter into the vulva at a slightly upward angle so you don’t hit the urethra. Push the catheter in until you feel some resistance and a little more. This will be 6 -12 inches depending on the size of the sow. The catheter will pop into place. Give a slight tug on the catheter. You should feel resistance again and the catheter should spring back in place. With the catheter inserted break the end off of the dose of semen. Turn the end of the catheter upward and insert the tip of the dose into end of the catheter. Gently and slowly give the dose bottle a squeeze only until the semen starts flowing into the sow. From this point back pressure, nudging flanks or vulva area and messaging udders may be used to keep her stimulated. During this time, she will have contractions to suck the semen out of the bottle. As the bottle collapses you may need to remove it and reinsert it to relieve some vacuum. Squeeze the bottle to start again.

When the bottle is empty or near empty leave the catheter raised for a minute. It’s now time to remove the catheter. Gently pull the catheter out. If the bottle is almost but not quite empty that’s ok. Also, some semen may run back out of the vulva, there shouldn’t be much.

Eighteen to 24 hrs. later the second dose will be administered.

For more information email: jmyers@watchtv.net
Visit http://www.heritageswine-ai.com/faqs/ 

This certificate must be completed by the owner of the animal being leased/loaned and given to the person receiving the animal before any offspring of the animals can be registered. This certificate must be submitted along with the proper registration forms to Mountain Niche for any registering offspring produced of leased animals. 

With regard to the current situation with Epic Nature registered stock, I want to thank, on behalf of the BOD, everyone who has contacted the board with concerns about the integrity of the Epic Nature program. I also want to thank everyone who participated in the zoom meeting on this subject and the many members and nonmembers who contacted board members to discuss. Opinions on how to proceed were basically broke down to 3 options. Leave the stock as is, flag all Epic bred animals, or purge Epic stock from the registry. Surprisingly, we had multiple Epic stock owners who said they felt we had no choice but to flag. We looked into the numbers and there are roughly 211 animals in the registry with Epic in their 3 generation pedigree. 29 of those are boars. After extensive talks with each other on the board, talks with industry experts and finally with the Livestock Conservancy we felt the decision ultimately came down to burden of proof. This is not a court of law. This is a self-ran breed association that relies on honesty and integrity of its members. Therefore, it is ultimately the responsibility of both the association and the member in question to prove they have followed the rules. Statements of individuals, Facebook posts, comments within posts, videos and pictures tend to build serious concerns and no effort to prove otherwise leave us no choice. Therefore, the board of directors have voted unanimously to flag all Epic Nature bred animals effective immediately. The rules to follow, all agreed upon unanimously as well, to remove the flag are as follows:

EPIC NATURE FLAG PROGRAM
Effective 10/18/22

• All animals currently bred and owned by Epic Nature, Ryan and DeAnn Kolodziej are not permitted to be transferred.
• All RWHA registered animals with Epic Nature pedigrees for the first 3 generations currently owned by RWHA members are enrolled into an Epic Nature Flag Program.
*Epic to Epic is Generation zero
*Epic to Non-Epic is Generation 1
*Epic on only one side of grandparents is Generation 2
• Flag program will be for 5 generations with the 6th generation registered with no flag.
• No flag-to-flag breeding will be accepted including any other current or future flagged animals.
• Epic Nature bred flagged boars will be allowed to be used as sires for one year to allow locating and purchase of a non-flagged boar.
Epic bred boars will remain in the registry and only produce flagged registerable offspring until October 17, 2023. After that time, no new registrations with Epic Nature bred boars (Generation Zero) as sires will be accepted.
• Pictures of the top, head, and each side will be submitted for all applicants at 5 month of age or older to be approved by a committee of one, non-voting board member and 3 voting, non-board members. No registrations will be allowed until pictures are approved.

Good Afternoon RWHA Members and Friends,
There have been questions asked by current members owning registered Epic Nature breeding stock regarding the impact on their herd in regard to the current revocation of membership and registry abilities of Ryan and DeAnn Kolodziej of Epic Nature Farm. To help clarify and answer future questions please read the following information.
“Effective immediately, no stock can be registered by either Ryan Kolodziej or DeAnn Kasubski-Kolodziej of Epic Nature Farm, LLC, through the RWHA. All stock registered prior to this notice, will be grandfathered, but no future stock or offspring stock of any animals registered to Epic Nature Farm, LLC, owned by Ryan Kolodziej and DeAnn Kasubski- Kolodziej will be allowed to be registered moving forward as (a) non-member(s) since membership has received a lifetime banning.”
This excerpt from the published RWHA Membership email and posting is stating that ONLY future stock and offspring stock of animals OWNED/BRED BY RYAN AND DEANN KOLODZIEJ OF EPIC NATURE CANNOT be registered with the RWHA.
This DOES NOT affect the stock owned and bought by members previously. Meaning if you are a current member who owns registered stock that was bred and sold to you by Epic Nature, your stock is still registered, can still produce registerable offspring, and the stock can be sold and/transferred by you. There are no restrictions against the owned stock bred and sold by Epic Nature to memebers and non-members before yesterdays date, September 28, 2022.
If you have any more questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to the RWHA Board of Directors.
Sincerely,
The RWHA Board of Directors

The results of the bylaws vote is in. The new bylaws were approved by 76% of the members who voted. The new bylaws will be posted on the RWHA website and go into affect immediately. A big thank you goes out to everyone who voted.