[Clive]

Well, we have had our first piglets! Strudel, our OSB gilt did us proud and produced a litter of ten (see photo). They are adorable and she seems to be a really good mother and is desperate not to trample the young ones, fussing around until they clear the area to let her lay down.

Now we have them, I need to think about registration and identification. I've checked the forums but I can't seem to answer all of my questions. I understand the ear notching numbering system for OSB's but there are a couple of things I'm not sure of.

1. I want to birth register all of the piglets so that I can produce pedigree certificates for my meat. Does this mean that they all need to be notched?

2. When should they be notched? I'm guessing it is in the first couple of weeks

3. Does the numbering continue for all pigs in my herd?  If so, how does this tie in with the pedigree numbering (i.e. does can Muddyfields Elsie 2 have an ID (notches) for number ten?

Hope this makes sense. If there is a past post which explains it all well, please feel free to just point me in the right direction.

Thanks

Clive

[Barnsnap]

Congratulations on your litter!
There is now the option to either notch or tattoo Oxford, Sandy & Black Pigs.
The OSB breed reps are best placed to advise you.  Their contact details can be found on:
http://www.britishpigs.org.uk/breedreps.htm

[HappyHippy]

Congratulations on your piglets 

1. You don't want to register all your litter. What you need to do is 'birth notify' them. Only register the very best piglets which meet the breed standard (and I'd only do it when you sell them or start to show/breed them) You can still produce meat certificates for birth notified piglets using the BPA website.

2. We notch at around 7 - 10 days old, when they are still young and small enough to be easily held. Sharp notchers, a can of purple or anti-biotic spray and your notching chart & pen & paper to record everything are the tools you'll need. You only take a tiny notch (less than 5mm) and they heal in no time without any kind of bloodloss. We start with the boars first then move on to the gilts.

3. Yes, the numbering continues - we had Large Blacks numbering 1 - 21 and OSB's numbering 22 - 28 - it just keeps going and you note the notch number and ear tag number on the registration form for any pigs that you do register. Although young pigs don't need tags to move between holdings and you might not want to tag meat weaners, it's definately worth putting the tags in (to any that will be registered) at the same time as you notch - going back 6 months later to try and figure out who's who, then apply tags then when you've got bigger, faster pigs that you can't pick up and restrain isn't easy (trust me - I know   )
HTH
Karen

[Fowgill Farm]

As HH says you don't register them all just birth note the whole litter.
Think of a a birth note as a birth certificate which proves their identity. Registering them is a bit like getting a passport which means they can be shown, used to breed pedigree stock and conform to breed standard.If they're all for meat they don't need to be registered but you can still birth note them which hleps the breed monitor the fecundity of the sow and the breed numbers.
HTh
 mandy

[Clive]

Thanks to you all. Sorry for the confusion in terminology. I was of course referring to birth notification, not registration in the herdbook. Your replies have helped no end! Thanks for the tip on tattooing, that's an interesting option. I have no idea yet whether any of them are good enough to register, i'm still giving Strudel a bit of space and not touching the youngsters yet.

Thanks for all the help

Clive

[Eastling]

Congratulations  lovely