Purchasing livestock can sometimes feel like a true gamble. A bred female can create some piece of mind when adding breeding pieces to your herd. She’s not only bred and can offer a quick return on investment, but you have the opportunity to purchase a female bred to an appealing sire and due to farrow at an ideal time for your market. But, how do you know which female to choose and what kind of value to place on her? The recent debut of Heimer Hampshires Proven Sow Dispersal catalog included four great ways to define a sow as proven and offers ways you may determine her to be a true investment for your herd.

:: HER ABILITY TO GENERATE DOLLARS ::
This seems obvious but it's often overlooked or even dismissed. Usually, the sows that generate dollars are the same sows that hit for the cycle and eventually accomplish all four of these qualities in their lifetime.

:: HER ABILITY TO INFLUENCE FUTURE GENERATIONS THROUGH SONS & DAUGHTERS::
Sows that produce boars and gilts that transmit the best traits of the sow family to the next generation are a true testament to the genetic makeup of a sow. Sows with this ability can prove themselves for multiple generations.

:: HER ABILITY TO GENERATE PROGENY THAT ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE IN THE SHOW RING ::
Even though the process is often subjective, as an industry, we still consider show ring success the ultimate measuring stick. There's only one Grand at every show and while it may seem like a consolation prize, the ability to produce progeny that compete at the highest level is still a worthy achievement.

:: PROVEN BY PEDIGREE ::
The littermates to winners, the full sib to a popular boar or the maternal sister to the best sows often get a second look, not because they are more proven than the rest, but because their pedigree says they could be.