Ear Notching Swine

1. Ear Notching Swine

2. Why do we ear notch swine? • The ear notches are the Identification of the hog. • Instead of naming all the hogs they have numbers • This hogs identification is 12-6.

3. When should we ear notch. • It is best to ear notch when the piglet is a couple weeks old. • The piglets are easier to handle at a young age, and will fight less.

4. What tools do we use to ear notch. • There is only one tool used in ear notching hogs. This tool is called a notcher or notchers. • they have a small triangle clamp on one end. This is the side used to make the notch. • They are very sharp and should be handled with care.

5. How do we use the tools • The notcher is used just like a whole punch. • Place the hogs ear between the triangles and press down. • As soon as you have the tool pressed together pull out away from the hogs ear. • The faster this is done the better.

6. What do the ears mean? • Each ear stands for something in the identification of the hog. • The right ear is the pig #. • They left ear is the litter #.

7. What does the pig and litter number mean. Left ear Right ear • The litter number stand for how many litters the sow (mom) has had. • If this is her 3rd litter then the left ear will represent the number 3. • The pig number is the number of piglets born out of the litter. • If the hog was the 6th hog notched out of that litter then the right ear will represent the number 6.

8. How do we know how to number the ears. • Divide the ear into sections, just like shown. • Each section stands for a number. • You are able to place up to 2 notches in each section. It is always best to keep the notches to a minimum.

9. How do we read the notches? • You read the ears notches from left to right. • Read the notches facing the hog.

10. Now we know how lets practice. • What are this hogs ear notches? Click to see answer!

11. How about this hogs! • What are this hogs ear notches? Click to see answer!