[Klb]

Just a quick question, I currently have 3 piglets, around 9wks I guess, would it be unreasonable for me not to stick ear tags in till just before slaughter?, as I keep finding when tagged early the piggy manage to rip them out some how, or should i bite the bullet do it now and pray they stay in this time around.

[Tala Orchard]

Personally we only tag when we take them from the holding either for slaughter or to market as you say that can be dislodged infact we have had the odd one come off between holding and destination just a few miles away.

But each to their own.

Tala

[Berkshire Boy]

Just do them the day before they leave saves any problems.

[Liam_86]

I plan to do mine just before we take to slaughter - several people have told me they will just get pulled out!

[hughesy]

We tag ours when they are loaded to go to the abatoir. No point doing them any sooner.

[benkt]

+1 for tagging in the trailer on the way to slaughter - I don't understand the government obsession with having everything tagged, they don't last five minutes round here usually!

[HappyHippy]

Yup, I only tag porkers once they're loaded for the abattoir.
Unless it's a pedigree pig or one that's going to a show I don't tag until I have to.
HTH
Karen

[supplies for smallholders]

Maybe a bit controversial here, but....

If the tags come out then either a) The tags are poor quality or b) They haven't been put in correctly ie. in the right place, or squeezed shut tightly enough to bend over and lock the end of the tag.

If Tags are such an issue then try using the alternative of Slapmarks, which can be done Hours, Days or weeks or months before moving them.

[kja]

Maybe a bit controversial here, but....

If the tags come out then either a) The tags are poor quality or b) They haven't been put in correctly ie. in the right place, or squeezed shut tightly enough to bend over and lock the end of the tag.

If Tags are such an issue then try using the alternative of Slapmarks, which can be done Hours, Days or weeks or months before moving them.

no matter what the quality or how well they are put in pigs, goats etc can loose tags quite easily by means of getting caught up etc. which usually ends up with a torn ear.

[hughesy]

Also if you put metal tags in some time before they go the tags will be filthy and impossible to read. There's also the risk of infection at the tag site or if it gets ripped out. Tagging immediately before they go will prevent any of this.

[supplies for smallholders]

Sorry I still disagree - a metal tag if properly applied in the right place is almost impossible to snag. If they are snagging and pulling out then it is a problem with the enclosure and not the tags - what are they getting caught on?

I have always tagged our pigs at around 8 weeks - and none have ever lost a tag....maybe Im just lucky..

[Bodger]

I'm sorry SfS but your statement is rather sweeping. I've had pigs with tags fitted correctly and the pigs  have lost them  by ripping them out on troughs and barbed wire leaving nasty tears in their ears.

[Bodger]

Just to add that lop eared pigs are quite prone to this.

[hughesy]

I'm sorry SfS but your statement is rather sweeping. I've had pigs with tags fitted correctly and the pigs  have lost them  by ripping them out on troughs and barbed wire leaving nasty tears in their ears.

Same here.It's the pigs ear that rips, not the tag that comes undone. It's easy for them to get caught on metal feed troughs. I've even found the tags after they've been ripped out still perfectly fastened. This happened with the first group of weaners we ever had as the bloke we bought them off insisted on putting metal tags in before they left, which was pointless because we had to re-tag with our herd number anyway. Since then I've always tagged at the last minute.

[supplies for smallholders]

Ok - Maybe its because I use electric rather than barbed wire and troughs designed with no sharp edges or snag hazards...