John is off to Austria with Barry in just over a weeks time to collect our new Mangalitza stock.
We intend to microchip these pigs in an attemp to ensure pure lines and prevent fiddling with pedigree papers in the future.
We believe things are in a bit of a mess in UK with this particular breed and I for one find it incredible that the different colours can be interbred and still be called pedigree.
I understand the why's - lack of bloodlines - but by deffination one assumes that pedigree means pure.
The microchip wont prevent the interbreeding of course, but it will ensure that pedigree papers cannot be transferred to other pigs which is something we know does happen with other Rare Breeds - Tamworths for example - we have had the experience of knowing that one of our sows is pedigree, but her original paperwork was passed to another pig long before we bought her.
What do others think about microchipping their pigs? For future pedigree litters it means chipping your existing breeding stock now, and then chipping any piglets that are sold on thereafter. There has to be a starting point, so one has to assume that the original information is honest and true. What we are implimenting is for each pig to have a unique identification which once implanted/recorded cannot be tampered with. The same system as applies to pedigree dogs etc.
I don't know the cost as yet, but assume it will be on the lines of a dog. We have already enquired with the Austrians if they can microchip the Mangalitzas at source, but if not then we shall get our local vet to do this for us before the stock start to breed.
Kate