[The Chicken Lady]

My pigs are ready for slaughter  I have just remembered that they need to have a slap mark before leaving my holding. Can anyone tell me where to get one from - mail order is fine. 

[myrtle]

Hi - I have just gone through this so may be able to help!

Check with your slaughterhouse as to how they require your pigs to be marked. I thought I could take mine with a slap mark but was told that this can rub off during processing - I had to tag mine, which although sounds a little bit off putting was absolutely straight forward. It can take a few days for tags to come through (you have to have them made up with your Defra herd/flock number).

Our local slaughterhouse was very helpful and talked me through all the regs and paperwork that I needed.

Good Luck!

Myrt

[gavo]

Karen,

   Try Fearing's - their Multiflex R tag is ideal (http://www.fearing.co.uk/new_tag_management.cns?cID=12) - we use them for all our pigs. You can get your Defra/Dard/etc. herd no. on one side and you own reference no. (pedigree name/number etc.) on the other. You'll need the pliers for them as well.

Cheers

Gavin

[Jayhawk]

Slapmarks are fine with my local slaughterhouse. However, if you need tags I believe they have to be brass to withstand the scalding process.