The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Farm and country on January 08, 2011, 09:16:38 am

Title: Tattooing Black Pigs
Post by: Farm and country on January 08, 2011, 09:16:38 am

Yesterday we had a phone call from a customer with berkshire pigs who wanted to know how to tattoo her them as they are black. I was fairly sure that I'd heard that you use green ink on black pigs. I phoned my supplier who duely confirmed this information. However on further investigation there seems to be a rather complicated pig ear notching system. From what I gather, both methods are accepted. What method does everyone else use?

Title: Re: Tattooing Black Pigs
Post by: Mr Pig on January 08, 2011, 10:02:52 am

If this is for pedigree recording, tattooing of Berkshires is not accepted by the BPA. Many years ago trials of white tattoo paste were conducted on coloured pigs and the results were considered unsatisfactory. I cannot imagine green tattoo paste being legible in a Berkshire pig's ear so the notching system is the best bet.

Title: Re: Tattooing Black Pigs
Post by: HappyHippy on January 08, 2011, 10:59:22 am

There's a whole thread on this subject cos I asked too  ;)
http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=11765.0 (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=11765.0)
But as Mr Pig says - notches are the way to go (for registered stock anyway)
HTH
Karen x