MANAGEMENT

Detailed explanation-1: -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-2: -Ear notching is done on new born baby pigs for the purpose of identification. The pig’s right ear is used for the litter number. All pigs in the same litter should have the same ear notch in the right ear.

Detailed explanation-3: -The current list of approved APHIS swine identification devices / methods includes: Official eartags. USDA backtags only when used on swine moving in slaughter channels. Official swine tattoos (issued and authorized by State or Federal Animal Health Officials) on swine moving in slaughter channels.

Detailed explanation-4: -There are five designated zones (1, 3, 9, 27, and 81) in the Litter Ear and three designated zones (1, 3, and 9) in the Individual Pig Ear. In zones 1, 3, 9, and 27, there can only be two notches, thus if there are two notches in all 4 zones, that would represent Litter 80.

Detailed explanation-5: -Pigs are then identified by combining both the right and left ear numbers. For example, the pig’s identification would be 16-5. The ear notching system is used because it is an inexpensive, permanent way to identify pigs and gives all pigs an individualized identification.