Chapter 5: Perform pig routine management practices

Pig routine management demands systematic approaches to ensure accurate record keeping, health monitoring, and overall farm productivity. Identification of pigs is fundamental to these practices because it enables farmers to track individual animals for breeding, health treatments, and performance evaluation. In Kenya’s diverse pig production systems, from smallholder farms in Kiambu to commercial units in Nairobi, effective pig identification enhances traceability and supports disease control measures mandated by regulatory bodies such as the Kenya Veterinary Board. This chapter focuses on the various methods used for pig identification, their application in Kenya’s animal production sector, and best practices for implementation.

5.1 Pig identification methods

Identification is the marking of each pig with a number or code that stays with it, so that the animal can be recognised among others and linked to its records. Without it, the attendant cannot tell which sow farrowed which litter, which pig was treated or vaccinated, which boar sired a litter or which pigs grew best. A good identification method is permanent enough to last until the pig is sold, easy to read, quick and cheap to apply, safe for the pig and hard to lose. This topic describes ear tags, ear notching, neck chains and numbered straps, then other methods used to identify pigs and the records that go with them.

Ear tags

An ear tag is a plastic or metal tag fixed through the ear, carrying a number, letter or code. It is a widely used visible method on pig farms.

• Types: One-piece plastic tags and two-piece tags (a male and a female part) in different colours, and metal tags that are clipped on. Coloured tags can show the group, house, or year of birth.
• Application: The tag is fixed with a tag applicator, which pushes the pin through the ear between the ribs of cartilage, away from the main veins and towards the base of the ear. Mark the number on the tag with a permanent marker, or use tags that are numbered by the manufacturer.
• Hygiene: Disinfect the applicator and tag before use and the ear after, to prevent infection.
• Piglets: Tag them when they are a few days to a few weeks old, with small tags, and replace with larger ones later if needed.
• Advantages: It is cheap, quick to apply, easy to read and easy to use in large groups.
• Limitations: Tags can be torn out, can get caught on feeders and gates, fade or become dirty, and may infect the ear if poorly applied. Check them regularly and replace missing ones, using the register to confirm the number.

Ear notching

Ear notching is the cutting of small V-shaped notches in the edges of the ears, using a notcher. The position of each notch has a set value, and the values are added together to give a number. It is permanent and costs very little once the notcher is bought.

• How the code works: A common system uses the right ear for the litter number and the left ear for the number of the pig within the litter. The farm must use one chart and keep it where every worker can read it.
• Timing: Piglets are notched in the first days of life, usually together with other routine tasks.
• Method: Hold the piglet firmly, disinfect the notcher in clean disinfectant between animals, cut the notches cleanly at the correct positions without going deep towards the centre of the ear and avoid the large veins. Bleeding is usually slight and can be stopped with pressure.
• Advantages: It cannot be lost like a tag, needs no tags to buy and lasts for life.
• Limitations: The notches can be misread, and the code is limited, so it suits herds of moderate size. It is painful, so it is done quickly by an experienced person. Wrongly cut notches cannot be corrected. Torn ears make the code hard to read.

Neck chains

A neck chain is a light chain, usually of metal links, with a numbered metal or plastic tag fastened to it, that hangs around the neck of the pig.

• Use: Mainly for adult sows and boars, which are kept long enough for the chain to be worth using and are easy to approach, such as sows in stalls and boars in individual pens. It is also used for a temporary mark.
• Fitting: The chain must be loose enough for a hand to pass between it and the neck but not so loose that the pig can pull it over its head or get a leg through. Check regularly that it has not become tight as the pig grows.
• Advantages: The number can be read from a distance, and chains can be moved from one pig to another.
• Limitations: Chains catch on feeders and gates and can be lost or pulled off by other pigs. They are not used on growing piglets, since the neck outgrows them. A chain that is too tight can injure the neck.

Straps with numbers

A numbered strap is a band of leather, nylon or plastic, with a number on a plate or printed on it, fastened around the neck, or occasionally a leg, of the pig.

• Use: For sows, gilts and boars in the breeding herd, and for pigs that must be recognised at a distance, such as during heat checking or treatment.
• Fitting: Choose the correct size, fasten with a buckle or a strong clip, and allow room for two fingers under the strap. Check and loosen it as the pig grows.
• Advantages: It can be read from a distance, is easy to put on and take off and can be reused on another pig after cleaning.
• Limitations: Straps can slip, be chewed by pen mates, be lost in wet or muddy pens and cause sores. For these reasons they are supported by another, permanent method of identification.

Other methods of identification

• Tattooing: Numbers are punched into the ear with a tattoo tool, and ink is rubbed in. It is permanent and used for pedigree stock, but it is hard to read on dark skin.
• Electronic identification: Microchips or electronic ear tags carry a code read by a scanner. They are accurate and give automatic records but cost more and need a reader.
• Paint or marker sticks: Temporary marks on the back to identify groups, pigs treated or sows in heat. They wear off in days to weeks.
• Branding: Marks made with hot or freezing iron on the skin. It is rarely used because it causes pain and better methods exist.

Records and choosing a method

An identification number is useful only if it is written in the herd register together with the pig's birth date, breed, parents, treatments, breeding and weights.

• Choose a method that suits the herd size and class of pig: ear tags or ear notches for litters and growers, and neck chains or straps in addition for adult breeders.
• Use two methods for breeding stock, so that one remains if the other is lost.
• Keep the code chart, tag numbers and register up to date and check them when stock is counted.
• Follow the same system on the whole farm, so that every attendant reads the numbers the same way.

Chapter Summary

This chapter covered essential routine management practices in pig production starting with pig identification methods, which are crucial for tracking individual animals and managing breeding and health records effectively. Grooming performance was discussed as a key activity to maintain the pigs’ cleanliness and comfort, promoting overall health. Hygiene and sanitation were emphasized to prevent disease outbreaks and maintain a safe environment for pigs. The process of culling was explored as a method to remove unproductive or diseased animals, ensuring the herd’s quality and productivity. Control of internal and external parasites was addressed, highlighting the importance of regular treatments to prevent infestations that can compromise pig health. The chapter also explained isolation and quarantine procedures for new or sick pigs to prevent disease spread within the farm. Provision of clean water ad-libitum was identified as vital for hydration and optimal growth. Finally, the preparation of accurate records and implementation of bio-security practices, including sterilization, were presented as foundational to maintaining a healthy and productive pig farm.