[Wizard]

Sorry all. I'm back from Wakefield, Shall us start agen.In the 40's and 50's The common way to mark similar pigs and sheep was to cut notches, notches in the ear.A Vee or a Hole about 3/8" diam was punched in the animals ear I have seen them in patterns and several in a row. I think it was very cruel in some cases the pigs ear would bleed for ages.Sometimes the pig would need to be separated because the other pigs would bite at its ear.Hence the Funny in ear Tattoo's Its not done now.though George

[oaklandspigs]

If you buy from "show" stock, then it is quite likely they will be tatood with an individual number which relates as Gavo and Farmer say to their individual number registered with the BPA and may also contain three letters.  Wizard mentions the other method for some breeds which is ear notching and is still done. 

This has nothing to do with legal identifcation, which will always consist of your Defra herd number (one or two letters followed by 4 numbers). Except for pigs being shown, they do not require individual ID

Therefore to answer the original question - slapmark when you take to slaughter.

[Wizard]

Thanks Oaklands I knew I had seen it done and my word if it was not done carefully they literaly screamed

[MiriMaran]

OK so as far as slaughter goes we ignore the tattoo and just slapmark as normal?  Would the breeder just automatically tattoo every pedigree pig and then decide as they get bigger about whether to register them with the BPA?

[MiriMaran]

This is a photo of the ear tattoo.  I seem to be struggling to upload it, but this link should work.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ubZsV4A-WrQ/S51AcqXrf_I/AAAAAAAAA2M/x1T6LR3-ANo/s512/010.JPG

[gavo]

Some do; but as long as the pig was birth notified and identified with a tag; they can be tatooed at a later date if they make the grade.

[Mr Pig]

Sorry Gavo but that is misleading information which is contrary to both BPA and British Lop Pig Sy rules. Part of the birth notification process is to permanently earmark the pig(s) by 8 weeks of age or before mixing with other pigs. You may NOT single tag a pig and then tattoo at a later date. Anyone following this method and being found out risks having all their pedigree stock de-registered.

[Wizard]

Sorry Mr Pig and you Gavo I don't know what a pedigree pig is There seems to be some confusion on the thread well there is for me I have been involved with lots of pigs some 2 legged as well  I know nothing of 21st century pig growing.The last 2 we did Came from a chap at Swallow They were put into a sty as in my Killing the pig 60 yr ago Treated exactly the same.Dewey came round dropped them hung them up in the crew side shed came back a couple of days later chinned them we processed em and eventually eat them Dewey unfortunately passed away as we all will one day.The pigs had no ear tags notches slap marks bugger all They played in the paddock when they were big enough and was bucket rattled at meal times and slaughtered when they were ready for the knife Happy pigs

[gavo]

I did not advocate this method just stating that it does happen.All our piglets are penned at weaning and sorted through to decide if they are pedigree quality or meat quality.Also tatooing is not compulsory double tagging or notching is allowed for many of the pedigree breeds; we keep Tams ours are tatooed;any way tatooing is hard enough on a small Tam i wouldn't want to try on a larger one!

[Wizard]

Hey up Gavo I can imagine it Tatooin pen in one hand and a squeallin pig under your arm and muther hodein its ear up.The confusion the noise 

[gavo]

We do actually wear ear defenders; just like they wear on the roads etc; it's amazing how loud they still sound.

[Wizard]

and I missed a little bit Gavo not all the noise from the pig either

[gavo]

Yes a few swear words get uttered by me and the wife.She does the holding and i tatoo.

[Wizard]

Yeah but they are definately allowed on them sort of occasions.Oh drat Does not ease the strain

[oaklandspigs]

OK so as far as slaughter goes we ignore the tattoo and just slapmark as normal? 

MiriMaran

Yes is the short answer !!