The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Button End Beasts on June 24, 2013, 11:01:29 pm

Title: Birth notifying and ID
Post by: Button End Beasts on June 24, 2013, 11:01:29 pm

Hi,


Got a question about identifying piglets. My pedigree OSB recently had 7 piglets. I have a buyer for 2 of them but I think she just wants meat pigs. We were going to keep the remaining 5 for ourselves for meat.


Now, 4 of the 7 could be good enough for breeding, although as I said, they will most likely all be meat pigs. So if I birth notify the litter, do I need to tattoo/notch all of the piglets? Or do I give them all numbers but only tattoo/notch the 4 ones that might make breed standard?


Thanks in advance!


Beki

Title: Re: Birth notifying and ID
Post by: Berkshire Boy on June 24, 2013, 11:05:44 pm

Birth notify the whole litter and just notch the ones you may keep.

Title: Re: Birth notifying and ID
Post by: Button End Beasts on June 25, 2013, 06:55:39 am

Thanks BB. So just to be sure here, I birth notify the whole litter giving them all a number on the birth note form? Ta!

Title: Re: Birth notifying and ID
Post by: kja on June 25, 2013, 07:37:05 am

we always birth note and identify each one that way buyers know they are buying pedigree birth noted weaners and in doing such can sell on pedigree pork.

we tend to mark them all up as we check them over for registering.

Title: Re: Birth notifying and ID
Post by: Hassle on June 25, 2013, 07:45:28 am

If you tattoo all and keep a record of each one against breed standards, if they come back saying i bought this pig of you and want to use for breeding you can check your records to make sure if sold as a breed standard of just for meat.

Title: Re: Birth notifying and ID
Post by: HappyHippy on June 25, 2013, 08:39:25 am

I'd also ID all of them (even if they'll end up in the freezer) it keeps you right and saves any confusion on numbers/ID's for the next litter.
Notching really isn't that bad  ;)