The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: MarthaR on September 16, 2013, 10:45:50 pm
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Hello everyone - I am a new poster but have been reading and learning on here for the last year. This site has been so helpful with my journey so far as this year I have taken on a small part of my elderly grandmothers farm near Abergavenny, cultivated an acre of veg, planted fruit and have started with pigs, laying and meat chickens.
So the point of my ppst is I am hoping someone can answer me a question I haven't been able to figure out. I have (my first) three pigs soon to go off (raised from weaners). They were metal eartagged as weaners by previous owner and movement order completed to my holding. Two of them have managed to keep their tags, one has lost hers. Given these tags show the birth herd number, not mine do I need to retag the two or is it ok because the movement order traces the tag to me (appreciate I will need to tag the one who has lost hers).
Thanks for any advice on this
Martha
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To go to the abattoir pigs need to be tagged or slapmarked with the herd number of the holding they are leaving from, ie yours. If you talk to the abattoir they'l tell you what they want to see. Slaughter tags are usually the metal ones that are designed to survive the scalding process that is used to remove hair from the carcass.
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Hi there and welcome from Caerphilly.
The pigs did not need to have tags when they left the seller. I'm guessing the seller was planning on rearing them for meat him/herself.
Anyway, as you quite rightly say, they WILL need to be tagged with your own herd number before they leave you, so order your tags and pliers now (let me know if you want recommendations for suppliers).
The fact that the buyer tagged them might cause confusion at the abattoir, so make a note on the online form that the previous owner tagged them, and state the number. I wouldn't bother going to the trouble of trying to remove the original tags - it will just cause unnecessary stress.
Hope this helps. Please get in touch if you need anything else.
Liz
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Thanks both for your replies. I suspected as much but wanted to check with those more knowledgable. Not sure why they were already tagged with metal tags but no matter. Liz my plan was to order from Fearing - who would you recommend? I actually met you on the first smallholder course you did at Humble by Nature this year (very snowy day in late March). I pretty much got going straight after that! And I adore having pigs as much as I thought I would.
Thanks again
Martha
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"supplies for smallholders" are good for tags and very prompt.
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:wave:
I ordered mine from Supplies for Smallholders and they were with me in less than 10 days.
I had made sure I ordered them 6 weeks before I need them just in case ;D
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Usually get ours from Fearing's but they can take 10 days or so to arrive so don't leave it too late.
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Ketchums Manufacturing are very good. Do small no ie 10 and my last lot came the next day - £6 for them including fast track. I already have applicator. These are metal slaughter tags.
:wave:
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This caught me out this morning as was due to take 3 to slaughter tomorrow that I had tagged when I bought them. Coundnt complete the EAML with the tag number so a phoned up. Can confirm what has been said. MUST HAVE TAG OR SLAP MARK with YOUR HERD NUMBER.
Got to go and buy some pig food as only had 1 tag left!!!
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It's your HERD number that needs to be on the tags, not your holding number, eg AB1234 or whatever yours is. You don't need to individually number pigs to go for slaughter they just need your herd number on the tag or slapmark. To tag or slap will depend on they type of pig and the abattoir's requirements. Once you've registered on the eAML2 system it takes only a few seconds to set up a move to slaughter.
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Edit done to herd number
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I always use Ketchum Manufacturing, great old fashioned service and very prompt delivery, go along with Cuckoo`s recco. They are base in Tadworth Surrey phone number 01737 812218
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Sorry to tag along ;D Glad your enjoying your pigs Martha, can I just add a question similar to yours?
My SB Boar is off to the abattoir on Monday and I slapmarked him yesterday but he too was metal ear tagged by the holding he was born on. Do I need to make some note about this on the movement form online or will the abattoir know that the slapmark is the obvious most recent holding reference? I hadnt even thought of it before this post
Thanks
Cara :pig:
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Yes, I'd just add a biro note on the form saying "slapmark is our holding, tag is from holding of birth"
Just makes it clear to the abattoir, although I would be surprised if you had a problem if you didn't - geberally abattoirs will work from slapmarks if present
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Just to say thanks - really appreciate people taking the time to offer information and advice.
Martha :thumbsup:
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:relief: :relief: Thanks Oaklands!!
Wish you all the best Martha and so glad you did this post, you helped me too!! :thumbsup:
Cara :pig:
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Hello Martha! Glad you enjoyed the Humble by Nature smallholding course, and glad it gave you the confidence to get some pigs!
I've no idea why people bother tagging weaners before selling them - if they are under a year old, all they need is a temporary paint mark to move to the next holding.
I use Fearings metal tags - mainly because I get a discount with them as a member of the BPA. They work fine and are easy to apply. Mind you, I wouldn't recommend their plastic tags/taggers. They don't stay in very well and the taggers are a faff to use and the pigs often run off with them still attached.
Good luck with the abattoir. Do report back when you get your meat. And feel free to message me with queries - either through here or via my websites.
All the best,
Liz