Author Topic: Ear tattoo kits (Read 2580 times)

Small Plot Big Ideas · « **on:** February 25, 2016, 09:43:08 am »

Is it just me or are there no decent ear tattoo kits around for doing pigs ears (i.e. not slap marking)

I have two pedigree Tamworths that are getting close to farrowing but I can't find anything for sale that has decent size numbers.

The tattoo pliers sold by Fearings are only for 7mm digits/letters which I can imagine means they're pretty fiddly to read. If I have no other choices then perhaps that's what I'll have to get or else I'll have to find someone to borrow a set from maybe.

Can anyone else can suggest a potential supplier?

IretonsFarm · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2016, 09:59:30 am »

Don't worry the numbers get bigger as their ears grow

Small Plot Big Ideas · « **Reply #2 on:** February 26, 2016, 10:36:26 am »

Thanks, I thought it might be something like that. It's a good job I asked though because she farrowed last night - a few days ahead of schedule! Mother and all 5 piglets survived the night and are doing well

I assume that if I'm numerically tagging and I don't have many then I can get the 7 space pliers and start with just a couple of sets of numbers (0-9) and fill the remaining spaces with blanks?

kja · « **Reply #3 on:** February 26, 2016, 11:13:53 am »

Don't forget to order you HDL letters.

Small Plot Big Ideas · « **Reply #4 on:** February 26, 2016, 11:19:51 am »

Bugger, is that really required? Is that a new requirement then? They 2 "mothers" only have numerical tattoos at the moment which the original breeder applied...

harmony · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2016, 11:55:06 am »

A tattoo should consist of the HDL then the numbers. If your sows only have the numbers they aren't identified properly for pedigree purposes.

IretonsFarm · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2016, 01:38:11 pm »

Yes you need the letters and fearing do the blanks as well.

Don't be tempted to go 001, 002 etc just do 1, 2, 3. Less hassle plus 0's can deform or not take properly and end up looking like 3/ 5/ 6/ 8.

Not a problem if you've only got 5 but a pain if there are 50 of the buggers, we've had to ask the butcher before now as the tattoo becomes easier to read once they have been scaled at the abattoir.

greenbeast · « **Reply #7 on:** February 29, 2016, 03:33:25 pm »

We only slap when they head to abbatoir?

kja · « **Reply #8 on:** March 01, 2016, 08:04:06 am »

Quote from: greenbeast on February 29, 2016, 03:33:25 pm

We only slap when they head to abbatoir?

This thread is not about slaughter ID the ear tattoo is for pedigree breeders and must be done before weaning it will have the breeders HDL and the pigs number this information is then used to birth notify the litter. The shoulder slap mark is for slaughter and will have your herd mark on which will be different.