[harry]

hi...about to take some pigs to slaughter soon... about 11 month old kks but other breeds  later ...what type of ear tags do i need

[little blue]

Check with the abbatoir - they'll have their own regulations / preferences.

Usually metal, some places want slap mark (tattoo) as well as

Ours had small metal "clip" type tags - they were fine for slaughter.

[harry]

can you slap mark a very hairy Kune kune

[sabrina]

We thought of slap marking but were told as of last December they must have ear tags. Ours went with metal ones.

[FiB]

Ours were fine with plastic slaughter tags - so it is deffinately worth asking the abatoir what they want/need.

[little blue]

can you slap mark a very hairy Kune kune

Never tried!
we just needed metal tags

In theory, yes... You might not see it until the hair is removed

[plt102]

We use metal ear tags. They're not expensive in the grand scale of things and survive the various processes at the abbatoir. We tag them in the trailer before we set off to slaughter as they are normally tucking into their favourite treat of brocolli or bread and don't seem to notice much. Saves chasing them round the pen

[supplies for smallholders]

Hi,

The regulations in England and Wales are : a single metal ear tag or slapmarked on each shoulder. I understand slapping is in the process of being mandated in Scotland as well.

The abattoir may have their own preference of which type of ID they like.

With tags there is always the danger that they may be lost during the slaughter processes - worst case then is the carcass is condemned, although we have never had reports of Qwiksilver tags being lost.

Slapping is the 100% certain way to ensure a good ID of the carcass - as it cannot be lost - that's why in commercial production slapping is used 100%.

Depends on your slapper as to how well they will slap "hairy" pigs - look for one that has parallel rather than tapered pins.

Thanks

[harry]

been to one of our big abbotiors today asked what they req ie ear tags,,,,,,,,, not bothered they said metal or plastic they all come out in the dehairing process, they slap mark them when i bring them in so thats ok then, will use plastic as they are only for the drive there.

[dixie]

You shouldn't have to slap mark, as long as they are tagged with tags that withhold carcass processing then that's sufficient, metal ones usually.

[plt102]

We use metal tags and they are always still there after processing.

[Beewyched]

I've always used the plastic button eartag - BKKPS or Herd Tags & they've always survived the processing.

 

[supplies for smallholders]

You shouldn't have to slap mark, as long as they are tagged with tags that withhold carcass processing then that's sufficient, metal ones usually.

All I will say is that ALL of the big 5 UK commercial producers use slapmarks and not tags.

[piggy]

Harry sorry being nosey as u are near me who did you go and see.

 

[harry]

went to LAMBERTS Eye ind estate... they used to near Beccles but now in Eye....well did my first ones today.went ok, cant say they didnt notice, a squeel and a head shake then back to eating, small bit  of blood but all seems ok