[Mrs Snoodles]

I am wondering what to do with my large black piglets to come 
For show reasons, mine or any future customers, do I need to notch shortly after birth?  And would you do only the ones that looked up to standard, or all and reserve judgement until later?

I remember reading somewhere that double tagging is not truly accepted in the ring for large blacks, although having spoken to Animal Health this morning I have been told that they will need to be tagged at least once, when taking to show, for their purposes. 

Is this right? 

Rules and regs, just 

[kja]

notch for bpa / breed society records and herd tag  as TS requires

we keep white pigs for showing but we tattoo all the litter not just the ones for breeding/showing as per our society breed standard asks for birth notification & registration this has to be done prior to weaning (whilst piglets are still with sow)

[HappyHippy]

The BPA show committee has always said show pigs can't be double tagged (but as with all committees, over time members and ideas change, so never say never  ) so for showing they'd need their notch, or tatoo for light coloured breeds, and a tag

We notch all our Large Blacks and only tag (with a round button tag, in one ear) any which are being registered.
I was absolutely dreading notching, but we did them at a week old, and I have to say it wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting  One squeel (from a complete diva of a gilt - who also squeeled at being picked up  ) and no bleeding  Quick squirt of purple spray and viola, they were done.

I notch all, starting with all the boars from one litter, moving onto the gilts then continue the numbers with the boars in the next litter etc etc etc.
HTH
Karen

[Mrs Snoodles]

Cheers, all very clear thank you. ...... I'll need to work out how to keep the sow well away from them then 

[kja]

we walk our sow over to the other side of the yard to another pen then jsut to keep things moving for the forms we check underlines and record then tattoo recording numbers on the forms then put the finished pigs in another empty pen.

not sure if all breeds are the same but our society asks for males to be identified first then females.

[HappyHippy]

I'll need to work out how to keep the sow well away from them then 

We load the piglets into a crate while she's scoffing her breakfast and bring them into the house to do it - 2 locked gates and a door between me and the sow - that's my preferred method of seperation   

[Mrs Snoodles]

Thanks for the top tips! 

[Fowgill Farm]

I asked for the issue of double tagging to be raised by our GOS breed rep with the BPA show committee as i believe the curent ruling discriminates breeders who choose the double tagging method of identification for their pigs. I for one would be happy to go down the EID method like sheep but i seriously don't expect a change in policy. In 4yrs of showing i have only once had ears actually checked at shows.
Mandy

[Berkshire Boy]

I must have very laid back sows. I notch my weaners in the pen with the sow and never had a problem. I only notch any that look good enough to register.