Ear Notcher

Overview

Use a keyhole notcher to notch piglets weighing less than about 25 pounds. These notchers typically make a notch that is 3/16 to 1/4 inch deep. For larger pigs, a notcher that makes notches 1/2 inch deep is recommended 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. “Reading” the notches allows producers, judges, and other swine professionals to know more about the pig they’re viewing.