Author Topic: ear tagging (Read 3533 times)

david c · « **on:** March 16, 2016, 12:05:45 am »

I'm getting a bit confused - do pigs only need 1 ear tag for slaughter?

cheers

David

kja · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2016, 07:37:08 am »

Yes. Check with slaughter house which they like, some will only accept metal tags.

greenbeast · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2016, 12:49:46 pm »

We don't tag at all?

PK · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2016, 02:12:09 pm »

Pigs under 12 months do not need tagging. They need an identifier when sent to an abattoir which most commonly is in the form of two slap marks. Pigs over 12 months will need an identifier if they leave your holding which can be a tag or tattoo with your holding number.

harmony · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2016, 02:28:38 pm »

Quote from: greenbeast on March 16, 2016, 12:49:46 pm

We don't tag at all?

So what do you do?

harmony · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2016, 02:40:12 pm »

Quote from: PK on March 16, 2016, 02:12:09 pm

Pigs under 12 months do not need tagging. They need an identifier when sent to an abattoir which most commonly is in the form of two slap marks. Pigs over 12 months will need an identifier if they leave your holding which can be a tag or tattoo with your holding number.

Pigs under 12 months of age do not need tagging to move between two holdings however, they still require tags to be sent through a market regardless of age. Or attend a show.

Tattooing and notching is only recognised by breed societies and not considered identification for the purposes of moving animals. And anyway most tattoos and notches refer to the animal number not your defra herd mark or recognised slapmark, by which an animal going to slaughter at any age needs in the form of a tag or slapmark.

Slap marking removes any doubt that the animal is yours as it will remain on the carcase.

Tags can get lost and most people don't get the head back anyway.

Most people just use tags and it must be your heard mark in them.

david c · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2016, 01:13:16 am »

So it is only one tag then?

Cheers

David

SophieYorkshire · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2016, 07:20:01 am »

One tag should do. Check with the abattoir first

oaklandspigs · « **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2016, 11:27:57 am »

Pig any age going to slaughter – slapmark, or eartag (needs to be tag which survives scald process, so generally metal), can be tattoo, but most abattoirs hate this so will not take tattoo, and insist on slapmark or tag. Some abattoirs insist on slapmark, so check before marking.

tag is a single tag (doesn't matter which ear), slapmark is twice, once in each shoulder.