The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: suziequeue on September 18, 2010, 03:43:16 pm

Title: Slap-marking in advance
Post by: suziequeue on September 18, 2010, 03:43:16 pm

How far in advance of the abattoir can pigs be slapmarked?

Ideally I would prefer to do it in advance.

Susanna

Title: Re: Slap-marking in advance
Post by: supplies for smallholders on September 18, 2010, 04:19:44 pm

Hi,

You can do it from 10 weeks of age using 10mm characters.

use 15mm characters at slaughter weight, and you can do it as far in advance as you like.

Thanks

Title: Re: Slap-marking in advance
Post by: sarha on September 18, 2010, 05:38:08 pm

Good question and reply! Was wondering about that myself.

Title: Re: Slap-marking in advance
Post by: oaklandspigs on September 18, 2010, 06:20:40 pm

We normally do a day or so before - normally when they are feeding,just slap one side (this should be a firm blow, but not so as to damage), the pig will jump, but very quickly go back to eating, when you can then do the other side.  Pig suffer from transient pain, that is they respong to a stimulus and the return to normal.

Title: Re: Slap-marking in advance
Post by: suziequeue on September 18, 2010, 07:34:08 pm

We have the following equipment here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54129730@N08/5002010924/

*    A slapping hammer and appropriate pins for our herd number
*    An ink pad
*    A litre of black ink

I am assuming we fill the pad with the ink and then load the hammer with ink by pressing it into the pad?

Then..... whack!!!

Grateful for any advice or confirmation that we have all we need

Susanna

Title: Re: Slap-marking in advance
Post by: supplies for smallholders on September 18, 2010, 08:52:46 pm

Susie,

If you are just slapping one or two pigs dont use the ink pad - apply ink to the pins with an old toothbrush - make sure they are well inked.

Have a look at this link for technique: http://www.idandtrace.com/firsttimer.htm (http://www.idandtrace.com/firsttimer.htm)

If you had got your slapper from us we would have told you not to go to the expense of an ink pad unless you had 20 or so to slap at a time  ::)

Thanks

Title: Re: Slap-marking in advance
Post by: Hilarysmum on September 19, 2010, 09:21:24 am

Great advice from SfS.  We bought a pad which was not just a waste of money but a waste of ink, very messy and not very practical.  Using the toothbrush method saves loads of ink, mess and time.

Title: Re: Slap-marking in advance
Post by: suziequeue on September 19, 2010, 10:24:29 am

So  - do I just brush the ink onto the pins with a toothbrush?

Title: Re: Slap-marking in advance
Post by: supplies for smallholders on September 19, 2010, 12:00:39 pm

Basically yes, make sure they are well-inked each time you are about to slap.

Thanks

Title: Re: Slap-marking in advance
Post by: suziequeue on September 19, 2010, 04:26:45 pm

I'm going to make a little video of our efforts once we're done and put a link on here :-)

Thanks for all the advice