[bethjames]

I am not a novice with pigs or pig marking but I'm setting up a new, more expansive set up and have been reading up on pig marking guidelines and I'm slightly non-plussed to say the least. So if anyone can shed a light on the subject I would be most grateful!

I used to have GOS's. Bred from them, tattooed the piglets (both ears for gilts, one for boars etc...) and slapmarked any 6/7 month olds and odd sows going for slaughter. We never sold any pigs over 1 year old to another smallholding or dealt with boars over 7 months, so never used tags.

We are now setting up with OSB's, dealing with boars for serving (we previously used AI) and for hiring out to other holdings. We will therefore also be selling young sows and ready to serve gilts for breeding which we have not done before. We will not be showing any stock at any point.

If only to add more problems, clearly OSB's have black markings so there is a chance a piglet could have two black ears so tattooing would be ineffective and pointless. Also, pigs with too much black markings can obviously not be used for breeding so will therefore be going for slaughter - however, slapmarking will not be visible obviously. DEFRA says metal/plastic tags can be used instead...and then mention that there are currently no tags that will last the rendering process! There must be a way, what do large black breeders do??

I won't complicate things further by explaining what I think I should be doing but if anyone can help simplify things, even slightly, I would greatly appreciate it, I know this is a subject that baffles quite a few people, why they can't just make things simple, like with cattle, I'll never know.

Thank you all for your time and advice.
Bethan James
www.cilwg.co.uk

[BillyBerridge]

Hi Beth,

Id - for OSB's Breeding or Show Pigs - 1 ear 1 round tag + 1 ear when Id number notched in

Pigs for slaughter  - metal tag in the ear + slap mark if your worried about not getting your pig back, the slap mark will show once the carcass has been scolded.

[bethjames]

Hi Billy,
Thanks, you make it sound so simple! haha. Do you do that with all your pigs? Even if they're not going for breeding, boars and gilts the same?
I was hoping to not have to use notching, I assume this is breed related though, can I use double tagging instead? If so, what numbers go on each tag and on which ear? I read that the numbers on each tag had to be the same, then I read that they could be different....
Once I've chosen a system of tagging I have to do the same system across all stock don't I? I can't, for example, tattoo one ear and tag the other in suitably white eared pigs and in black eared pigs, double tag them. It'd be the same number system just didn't method of displaying them. I know it sounds silly but I'm just exhausting all options so I'm totally clear, I know I'll be questioned later and expected to have all the answers!
Sorry to be so fussy, I'm not a blonde I promise!
Bethan James
www.cilwg.co.uk

[bethjames]

Just reread my literature and it claims that only the Saddleback, Berkshire, Duroc, Hampshire and Large Black need notching so I assume it is just personal choice. If you do have any information on other methods of tagging it would be gratefully received.
Thanks again
Beth James