Thompson tip: Slap-dash slap-marking

We still see numerous farm reports where slap-markings are recorded by the abattoir or by BPHS (British Pig Health Scheme) vets as illegible. There are many implications to this, says Paul Thompson, veterinary consultant to pig-breeding company, ACMC Ltd. Not the least of these is farmers potentially getting paid for someone else poorer pigs!

Some farms achieve excellent identification marks by slapping pigs at 70-80kg when this coincides with a move of houses. At this stage the slap-mark continues to grow a little with the skin.

One problem area can be letting the lorry driver slap the pigs. It is better to take total control of such a vital process!