Ear NotchingProduced by Angel Henschel, 2012

Lecture by: Walter Taylor, Agricultural Educator

Why do we ear notch?

• Identification– Farm Record keeping• Administering medications• Purebred registrations• Sales

• Does not harm the animal, you will notice minor bleeding.– Why? There are no nerves in the margin of the animals ear.

How to read ear notching

• Pig’s left ear: individual pig number

• Pig’s right ear: litter number

Notch numbering layout

What is this animal’s ID number?

So this is the 121st litter, and was the 13th pig born in the litter.

Sample#1

What is this animal’s ID number?

9

3

81

33

Sample #2

What is this animal’s ID number?

87 12

Sample#3

QUIZ

There are 6 hog faces. Determine what the animal’s ID number is.

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Answers to Quiz

• Question 1: 28-9 • Question 2: 110-5• Question 3: 16-7• Question 4: 19-8• Question 5: 15-1• Question 6: 13-3