[ThefarmersWife]

Hi, me again.  I understand to send pigs to slaughter I must ear tag them and slap mark them.  Do they need both or will an ear tag alone do?  Also must it be a specific type of tag or can we just use a sheep tag as our herd number for both is the same? 
Also, can i just put the pigs in the back of my pickup truck to transport or must I put them in a livestock trailer?
Many thanks 

[supplies for smallholders]

Hi,

First check with your abbertoir to see what method they would like you to use.

If tags then they must be metal - and your herd number will be different from the sheep and will be a six digit number like yr1234 etc.

Transport - I think a pickup might be a bit dodgy !

Thanks

[oaklandspigs]

You will either tag (single tag with just your herd no. on it) - metal as SFS says.
Or double slapmark - one on each shoulder again your herdmark
NOT both.

Again as SFS says, check with your abattoir, some only accept slapmarks, most accept both.

On transport, the pigs must be able to exit from a ramp which must be no steeper than an angle of 20 degrees, that is 36.4% to the horizontal for pigs.  This will mean that you would need a particularly long ramp for a pick-up !  Also lateral protections (side gates) shall be provided so as to prevent animals from escaping. In addition to this, there are provisions on pig accomodation that a pickup is unlikely to meet.  Your pigs will be too big to manually lift without breaking some other regs as well, so don't think lifting out would be an option.

Finally if you don't comply with the regs the SVS (state vet) has the power to seize (condemn) the pigs.  They will still be killed, and the abattoir will still charge for that, but also charge you for subsequent dispoasl, so no meat back and lots of expense.  Unlikely to happen if you have not unloaded, but if you start to get them off the back of a pickup by say pushing them, or badly lifting and one falls off a makeshift ramp with no sides, and the SVS sees this, you could well end up with this situation.  Trailer is the answer - you can hire livestock trailers current rate is around £30-50, so much cheaper than buying if you only do a few a year.

Just read your other post, and if you can lift a 10 month old GOS, then there is something seriously wrong with it, so pickup definately out.

[shep53]

Took 9pigs to dunblane abattoir yesterday single slap mark no tags. If i turned up in a pickup only or a trailer with no ramp gates they would refuse to accept them. Speak to the abattoir all have differant rules.

[oaklandspigs]

Took 9pigs to dunblane abattoir yesterday single slap mark no tags. Speak to the abattoir all have differant rules.

Scotland has different rules (as we all in the EU for consistency ), and comes under The Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement)Order 1995, which permits movements to slaughter on a temporary mark.  England comes under the The Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 2007 and Wales under the  The Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) (Wales) Order 2008 both of which which requires a tattoo, eartag or double slapmarks. 

You are right that abattoirs can limit which method they prefer, and add additional requirements, but cannot reduce the law, so a single slapmark in England and Wales would be illegal.

Abattoirs like slapmarks as they are easily read from a distance, rather than needing to handle the pig as with eartags.

[supplies for smallholders]

Also there is zero chance of losing a carcass due to an eartag being pulled out in the slaughter / cleaning process.

[Hilarysmum]

Someone we knew took his pigs to the abattoir in a pick up.  One jumped out, escaped had to be shot.  Not pleasant.