The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Mrs Snoodles on January 03, 2013, 08:12:23 am

Title: Notching
Post by: Mrs Snoodles on January 03, 2013, 08:12:23 am

Are all notchers the same? Got access to one used for sheep....would this do? Thanks x

Title: Re: Notching
Post by: PigManDan on January 03, 2013, 08:19:04 am

Never seen a sheep notcher so wouldnt know to be honest

If it looks like this then should be okay: http://www.leaderproducts.com.au/products/pig-ear-notcher (http://www.leaderproducts.com.au/products/pig-ear-notcher)

For piglets its best to use 8mm, there are 16mm ones but as you can imagine, 16mm out of a piglets ear is just a tad too big!

Title: Re: Notching
Post by: HappyHippy on January 03, 2013, 08:57:44 am

My notcher looks like the one in PigManDan's link (minus the spring handle)

We notched ours around a week old and made a 'notch' about 4-5mm long in the ears. There wasn't really any blood afterwards and they were easy to hold at that age - good luck !

Title: Re: Notching
Post by: Tiva Diva on January 05, 2013, 08:27:48 pm

I have used a 16mm notcher, but only the tip of it. I know OSBs are required to have a "V" shaped notch, and have seen some sheep notchers which are "U" shaped, but provided the sheep notcher is the right shape, then yes, you can use it.