The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: docsal on March 12, 2019, 12:04:50 pm
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I have just got 4 young rare breed weaners for raising to porker/bacon.
It's my third batch and I want to be really sure I get back my own pigs from abattoir/butcher.
What is the best time to slap-mark them?
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When they’re eating ;). Or we do ours when they are in the trailer ready to go to the abattoir.
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??
What does this mean? Is it what I think, that you give each pig a slap before they go into the abattoir? What do you slap them with? How does this show on the carcase?
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A slap mark is a tattoo that is on a long handle that you bang on the pigs shoulder so that the carcass has your herd number on it . As sally say when they are eating in the trailer before going to the abattoir . Just looked on ebay 3 slap markers for sale
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Yes, right before i leave for abattoir.
I tend to do a rump slap, more room for error
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I slap mark them when they are at the trough the day before they go to the abattoir. You need quite a good swing to get the marker through their bristles. There isn't enough room in my trailer to do that.
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Yes fair point, when i've had to use a small trailer i've slapped when they're in the loading race before they go on board
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I use ear tags. Don't you trust the abattoir? I ask, as the one I use was recommended to me by a young vet as they did her pigs. I went out to have a look at it and I couldn't find it, I had to ask a postman. When I did locate it, it was shut but they also have a shop so I went to the shop and me being me, asked them straight out, "How can I guarantee that I get back my own animal?" Lets just say it went quiet! Anyway, the reply come back, politely, "We have rules that we have to follow and have built up trust with our customers!" I've been using them since 2003! I do also use a smaller abattoir which is further away, but only because I have no cattle transport and the previous time I had beef done, they came and got it but couldn't this time, so I asked him, "Can you haul for me or do you want the job?" He did the job, 2 big whopping Angus's too! He did another heifer and lambs for me last year. Its very much trust. Put it this way, I can eat the meat, but I cannot kill and skin etc!
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We have a lovely abattoir and a super butcher, but mistakes do happen. Usual person off sick or on holiday, preparation for an inspection taking people’s attention (ironic, huh? ::)), even in a very well run completely trustworthy setup, there will be the occasional mistake. We slap mark our pigs. Wish I could do the same with the sheep! Lol.
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Sily me. For some reason I had it in my dozy head that the slap mark had to be on the shoulder. Easier enough for pairs of pigs but with 5 eating from a round feeder it was like trying to slap mark a rugby side during a scrum. Rump it is next time...
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Thanks all - rumps pre-abattoir it is!
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If it’s your first time slap them a couple of weeks before. I’ve slapped pigs the day before abattoir and it hasn’t shown up! This gives you a chance to inspect it to make sure you’ve done it properly! I always slap both sides of the rump and both shoulders, it’s good practice as there are some abattoirs that have lost pigs or halves!! My pigs are OSB and Saddleback so it can sometimes be quite a job to get good contact through all the hair. Do it when there feeding and they’ll barely flinch :-)