The boys aren't tagged yet - am just about to order some, which ones are the best? little plastic ones? obviously my herd number goes on them or does it increment by 01,02 for each pig?
Wizz 
Wizz,
Welcome
As long as they stay on your holding they do not need to be tagged, so don't bother unless you need to know which is which (and that shoudn't be the case).
As you are doing off for meat, they do need to be either tagged or slapmarked to go to slaughter at any age.
Should you sell them on, they would need to be tagged if they are over 12 months, if under that age can move live to another holding on a temporary mark.
To tag for abattoir, they need
metal tags, these only need your herd number of them - there is no individual ID for pigs unless you get into showing them! They need to be metal to survive the abattoir processes.
An alternative is to slapmark them.
There is no point in putting on a metal tag until just before they go off, as they may lose it, and as above they do not require it.
As for choice of method two factors
1. Cost
Tagging - about £20 for pliers and 60p per tag. Slapmarker kit around £80, but no further costs (bottle of ink will last years).
2. Ease of use
Tagging requires you to get hold of pigs ear (relatively easy to do when they are eating) positon pliers and then squeeze quickly but firmly. Slapmarking involves "slapping" each shoulder, so you don't need to get hold of your pig, just get near enough.
So maybe order your METAL tags or slapmarker now, but don't use them.
Topic: GOS to slaughter, when ? (Read 3281 times)
