[Bionic]

I am a long way from needing to go there yet but just wondered if they want tags, slap marking or both.
I need to buy whatever it is so want to get prepared.
thanks
Sally

[robert waddell]

phone them and ask  i am sure they wont bite

[Blinkers]

Slap mark is fine 

[Bionic]

Thanks Blinkers.  Robert, I definitely intend to phone them nearer the time to confirm.

Sally

[robert waddell]

no no phone now that way you know well in advance and can order what ever you need

[rockstar]

hi bionic, how have they settled in? had mine on friday and they just love to sleep alot! what age are you thinking for slaughter.Do you know about smallholders show at builth this coming weekend?

[Bionic]

Rockstar,
They have settled in fine and are eating well.

Unfortunately, due to rain and rocks in the ground, their outside pen isn't yet ready but they seem quite content in the stable, cornered off with straw bales. Yes they do sleep a lot but wake whenever they hear me coming.

Depending on how their weight goes slaughter will be about 26 weeks, so round about mid Sept.

Yes, I am going to Builth on Sat.  There will be quite a lot of TAS'er's there.  There is a list of names on another thread.

Sally

[Maesgwyn]

you need to book them in months in advance, our first lot went weeks late because they are so popular, they also do buchering and again ask, Neil is very helpful, we use a slap marker which you will first have to practice with on something hard like a gate post, and ink between each slap, I am talking from experience because our first pigs came back with just one shoulder marked and not both!

[Bionic]

Thanks Maesgwyn,

Luckily the person we bought them from had some doing the one way trip the next day so he slap marked them while we were there to give us an idea of the amount of pressure it takes.

Will definitely do a couple of pratices on something first though.

I will give them a ring to find out how much notuice they want for a Sept visit.

thanks again
Sally

[Goat-Lady]

If the pigs are under a year of age they do not need tags or slap marks, but will need identification mark like coloured stripe down they backs.

[Berkshire Boy]

Goat-Lady you cannot send a pig to slaughter on a temporary mark it has to have a tag or slapmark.

[Goat-Lady]

Reply for Berkshire Boy

It must be different where you are then, because sent 4 pigs last under a year old with just coloured marks.

[robert waddell]

and where are you goat lady

[Bionic]

The weaners were moved to me under a temporary mark but I do know that they need something more permanent to go to the abattoir.

I have just rung the abattoir at Tregaron and they have confirmed that the pigs will require either ear tags or slapmarks but don't mind which one.

They have also said that I can book them in soon (for Sept) and change the date earlier or later nearer the time if necessary.

Sally

[Berkshire Boy]

Goat - lady, I think you live in wales as I do and pigs have to have tags or a slapmark to go to slaughter whatever their age. You can move weaners from farm to farm on a temporary mark but that is all.