The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Button End Beasts on April 13, 2013, 06:50:15 pm
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Been having a look on line for ear tags and though there are a few places selling tags, we could only seem to find one company (Fearing) selling the pliers for button tags. Can anybody suggest any where else to buy pliers from? Or is the Fearing one a good make to use? Also, any recommendations as to who supplies the best button tags? Thanks for any advice.
Beki
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we use daltons taggers come free with first order of tags
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If you keep OSB I think you are supposed to notch and plastic tagging might reduce the sale ability but check with your breed
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If you keep OSB I think you are supposed to notch and plastic tagging might reduce the sale ability but check with your breed
notching & tattooing is breed requirements (bpa/lop society) you still need a single uk tag when selling registered stock. imo button tags are the way to go.
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Hi, yep I am aware that notching is the way to go with OSB but I have been lumbered with an OSB boar with no ear tag and want to shift him some time soon.
I have to say that I don't really fancy the notching at all when (if) my Flo has piglets. I don't intend to show so will probably apply toBPA to ear tag.
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Button end beasts if you go onto the Berkshire pig breeders club facebook page there is a video done by Chris Impey showing how to notch. The weaner they notch hardly notices she is more bothered about being held than being notched. Worth a watch.
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We've got Fearing pliers - they're good for piglets or pigs you have restrained, but don't 'self-release' so for bigger pigs they're not ideal :-\
Ketchum pliers are better :thumbsup: (we have these too - great for quick application with pigs that are likely to run off ;)) and you get a discount if you buy tags and pliers together.
HTH
Karen
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BB thanks for that link, I will take a look. I think I am put off by something I saw online, an American farmer who looked like he was taking great big chunks out of the pigs ears. Also looking at the BPA diagram of notching it seems like an awfully faffy process. But then I am a wuss. :-\
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I'd rather notch than tag to be honest :-\
I did my first notching last summer having been dreading it beforehand, I had visions of squeeling piglets and blood everywhere (I too, am a wuss ;)) but it really wasn't even half as bad as I'd been expecting :thumbsup:
We did them around 10 days old when they were still small enough to be easily held and they made more noise being picked up than they did during it (except for one 'diva' gilt - but she just squeeled constantly anyway ::))
The notch that you are taking out is only tiny (around 4-5 mm at that age) and there's no blood. A quick spray of teramycin or 'purple spray' and job's done. We took the piglets to the house - well away from mum, to do it - that certainly takes the pressure off too ;)
Make sure you get good notching pliers that line up completely with no gaps and they'll not even notice you're doing it :thumbsup:
Karen
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If you keep OSB I think you are supposed to notch and plastic tagging might reduce the sale ability but check with your breed
notching & tattooing is breed requirements (bpa/lop society) you still need a single uk tag when selling registered stock. imo button tags are the way to go.
Ok cool
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Thanks HH, that makes me feel a bit better. So what brand of ear notcher would you recommend?
And for our OSB boar lodger (!) I'll try the Ketchum pliers.
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We got our notchers from Fearing ;)
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HH - we got those ear tag pliers from Ketchum and my OH says they are the best ones he has ever used so I would thoroughly recommend them to anyone new to tagging :thumbsup: (still wussed out tagging the boar and let OH do it).
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I just read that OSB have to be notched and or tagged, what rules apply, if any, to GOS (not going to tag until their going to slaughter though)
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We got our tagger from a company called Markrite in Launceston we choose the Allflex button for both our pigs and sheep and that way we only need one tagger. The tagger works fine with sheep lambs piglets and grown pigs we have had no problems with the release after tagging as somebody else has mentioned on larger animals.
We had started out with metal tags for the pigs we found these not so easy to use and the pigs really screamed and bleed with them,
When we knew we were going to have sheep we decided we would get tags and taggers that would suit both animals so hence our change and I definitely say a change for the better.
Tala
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I just read that OSB have to be notched and or tagged, what rules apply, if any, to GOS (not going to tag until their going to slaughter though)
GOS if you are keeping for breeding and showing require a tag and tattoo, however if being kept for meat the only a slap mark is required. Slappers are quiet expensive so find some one local who can hire lend and then just buy the letters. Don't forget to wash and sterilise before you return