Pig identification, registration and movement control

1. All pig holdings in Northern Ireland must be registered with DARD.

2. DARD will allocate the herd keeper a holding number and serial numbered movement documents in triplicate for the sole use of that holding.

3. All pigs on the holding must be identified with the allocated holding number before leaving the farm or when they attain 6 months of age, whichever is sooner.

4. All pigs moving off a holding must be identified and be accompanied by the original movement document which should be retained by the buying herd keeper for one year. The first copy should be sent to the holding’s local DVO. The selling herd keeper should retain the second copy for one year.

5. It is essential for DARD to be able to trace all pig movements so that notifiable pig diseases (e.g. Swine Fever, FMD, AD) can be swiftly eradicated and their spread minimised.

Pigs over 6 months of age must be identified by an ear tag, an ear tattoo or a slap mark bearing the holding code and an individual number. Alternatively they can be slap marked with holding code and tagged with an individual number.

Pigs under 6 months of age moving off a holding must be identified by either an ear tag, an ear tattoo or a slap mark bearing the holding number.

Finishing pigs moving directly from their holding of origin to an abattoir in NI are usually identified by a slap mark. This may be a holding code or curer number, which has been notified to the Department. The slap mark must be applied to the pigs before they leave the holding.