Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[ozexpat]

pig 2 looks like she will deliver tonight or tomorrow

 

[DaveOmak]

I read up on Pig Ear Notching..... that is an amazing science or numbering system or what ever it is called... Ingenious system....

 

[drumstick diva]

tomorrow

- I'm still recovering from the last pigging

 

[Tomtommom]

tomtommom: I lived and worked on a grazing property in oz with 1000 wool sheep and 100 beef cows from 15 until 23.

Add 27 years of nursing to that and I have some skills. lol

I learnt most of the practical stuff like AI processing pigs at YTU (YouTube University)

The theory comes from reading every book, article and webpage I could find.

I also have a bit of a photographic memory which helps - along with enough stupidity to give things a try.

I have made some colossal rookie mistakes along the way but I have the sense to learn from them.

I absolutely love the challenge of it all. 13 months ago I told Bernie to go off and buy three piglets. Getting them pregnant on mail order semen and then delivering their piglets is a joy I cannot describe.

the piglets had a target birth weight of 1.3kg. The average is 1.46. Two are below 1.3 at 1.0 and 1.2kg.

they have all been processed and are suckling well.

when notching the ears, Bernie designated the number 1 jersery for "bonus" he is 1.5kg.

I get it.

I've only been at the chicken thing for a year and a half. The "farm bug" I've picked up in my youth roaming around on various farms

The internet filled in the knowledge gaps. We're very fortunate folks to have all this information at our fingertips.. and mail order semen.

 

[ozexpat]

the mail order semen adds the "crazy chicken/pig/goat/carabau man" factor.

I could have just used local boars and produce average pigs but where would the challenge be.

hopefully some of our higher grade sow piglets will be used for breeding to improve the quality of pigs.

 

[ozexpat]

I read up on Pig Ear Notching..... that is an amazing science or numbering system or what ever it is called... Ingenious system....

it is intimidating at first

its not dissimilar to using semaphore flags in boyscouts

the right ear is batch number. left ear is pig number in batch.

left ear is three segments the bottom can have two notches worth one point each. the slope to tip can have two notches worth three points each. the tip is worth nine points.

so pig 4 has a notch at bottom (1) and another past the curve (3).

pig 8 as two along the bottom (1+1) and two on the slope (3+3)

pig 17 would have 5 notches.

after 17 .... a new batch number

 

[ozexpat]

I read up on Pig Ear Notching..... that is an amazing science or numbering system or what ever it is called... Ingenious system....

it is intimidating at first

its not dissimilar to using semaphore flags in boyscouts

the right ear is batch number. left ear is pig number in batch.

left ear is three segments the bottom can have two notches worth one point each. the slope to tip can have two notches worth three points each. the tip is worth nine points.

so pig 4 has a notch at bottom (1) and another past the curve (3).

pig 8 as two along the bottom (1+1) and two on the slope (3+3)

pig 17 would have 5 notches.

after 17 .... a new batch number

 

[ozexpat]

have I told you lately that I love you diva?

 

[ozexpat]

wisher hacked my avatar to dress it like Santa. unfortunately I can't upload it.

thanks a bunch my favorite cop chick

mwaaaa

 

[vehve]

Oz, I think they used ketoprofen or meloxicam. At least to my understanding those are the two most commonly used painkillers for pigs in Finland. You can also use lidocaine before the process. Not very practical in larger operations, but you're doing it on such a small scale that it would be easy. The lidocaine lessens the stress during the process, while the painkillers lessen it afterwards and help the wound to heal more quickly. The lower stress levels lead to a healthier appetite. If you have access to those, you could do a small scale study with your boys and see if you notice any difference in how they recover. It's not a very large sample, so the reliability of your findings might be a bit questionable, but it could be interesting.