MANAGEMENT

Detailed explanation-1: -If a pig has a notch cut close to his head on the bottom of both his left ear and his right ear, his number is: pig 1, litter 1. The livestock identification system which uses a metal instrument to burn or freeze a mark on the animal is: branding.

Detailed explanation-2: -Ear-notching helps identify a pig’s litter and which one of the litter it is, giving each pig a unique identity number. Notches are placed in one of five locations in the pig’s right ear-to show the litter number-and in one of three locations in the left ear-to show the individual pig number.

Detailed explanation-3: -Look at the notches on the right and the left ears then add up the number on each ear to give the number of the animal.

Detailed explanation-4: -The pig’s right ear is the Litter Ear (where the litter number is notched) and the pig’s left ear is the Individual Pig Ear (where the pig number within the litter is notched). Pigs within the same litter will all have the same litter number, but will have different pig numbers.

Detailed explanation-5: -Whereas the left ear represents the individual number like the pigs first name. An easy way to remember which ear is which, when looking at the pig, the ear to your left is the litter ear. Left = Litter.