[ballingall]

Your herd number for cattle, is for cattle only. You need to register that you have pigs, and you will be given a pig herd/flock number.


Beth

[arusse23]

I also should have added that the abattoir in Ardrossan sent me an FCI (food chain information) form to fill out which isn't the easiest to make head or tail of.

[ballingall]

Oh yes- its a horrible form but it does need to filled out. I filled out what I could before, and then quizzed the nice lady at the abbatoir about how to complete the rest of it!


Beth

[arusse23]

Yeah they said they would help if I needed it....which i definitely do. As for the herd number do I contact the number on this post for Animal Health? Can this be given instantly over the phone or is this going to take longer?

[robert waddell]

FCI forms used to be a three page document         it changed to a simple one page format
you should have a separate pig herd no          if you don't have a pig herd number did you inform TS when you bought the pigs    just asking
it might be better slapmarking your pigs if it is ardrossan that they are going to better safe than sorry 

[robert waddell]

yes this takes longer   but they might just quicken things along  if you dont ask you never know

[arusse23]

Years ago my parents lost a pig when it went for smoking at Ardrossan.....apparently there was a mix up, however that was 10 years ago but my local butcher recommends them.....Does anyone still have concerns? Would anyone recommend another abattoir close to renfrewshire instead of Ardrossan? I was thinking about slap marking them but because we dont have any experience I wasnt sure.

[robert waddell]

ardrossan specialise in rare breed and traditional pigs       they supply butchers across Scotland         we have never had any dealings with them           the slap marks works only if they do not skin the pig and remove some of the fat layer     you have to remember that rare and traditional pigs have a deeper fat layer than commercial pigs
i did hear last night of another abattoir that had lost     a pig   but they have tightened up there system and are now very helpfull and are also now busy
last year there were 19 abattoirs in Scotland not all take in private kills

[HappyHippy]

Shotts Abattoir are really good - I normally use them and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
Wishaw is best avoided if you want your pig back 
Animal health at Galasheils is who you'll need to contact for your pig herd number, it will be different to your cattle or sheep one.
Karen 

[Daisys Mum]

Tags arrived today so 3 pigs tagged and ready to go, have put the trailer into their run so hopefully they will be used to it and go in without any fuss on Sunday night ready for a 05.30 start on Monday morning.
Anke I have only put 1 tag in, didn't think about the other ear when they have been split, oh and we are enjoying the one we got from you she is delicious.

Definately going senile, I bought pig from Tiva Diva,  but I am sure Anke's pigs are delicious too

[Anke]

Tags arrived today so 3 pigs tagged and ready to go, have put the trailer into their run so hopefully they will be used to it and go in without any fuss on Sunday night ready for a 05.30 start on Monday morning.
Anke I have only put 1 tag in, didn't think about the other ear when they have been split, oh and we are enjoying the one we got from you she is delicious.

Definately going senile, I bought pig from Tiva Diva,  but I am sure Anke's pigs are delicious too

Well my current girls came from Tiva Diva as well, and right now they are driving me round the bend.... (human) teenagers cannot be any worse... these pig(let)s are up at all hours, as soon as they hear one of us coming out of the house (and that sets off the cockerel next door at all hours of the day (and night!)... as soon as I put fresh straw in (as I think it is quite cold atm), they however bring it out immediatley to be placed into the mud (transporting the straw in their snouts I have to add!), they knock over their morning feed and then proceeed to eat it from the mud rather than their old door that we use as a feeding floor... but no escapes so far, and I know they will taste delicious!

PS.: My pigs are not very refined - they drink their cider from a bucket!!!!

[robert waddell]

maybe that is what is wrong    giving them cider
give the teenangers the cider and see what happens

[Anke]

They only get cider on their last night in the trailer (we do like to eat their liver!) - and usually they are asleep very quickly...