Ringing Pigs

Rooting in the dirt is a natural instinct for pigs; they do this to create a cool place to lay or to forage for insects. Pigs can overturn a field of grass or dig their way under a fence quickly and easily...





As you can see from the pictures we've tried many ways to discourage their escape but they are still able to dig and stay far enough under the electric fence that it doesn't zap them. So our only option to prevent the rooting is to put rings in their noses using very sharp triangular rings and a special pair of pliers...



Ryan caught each pig and held them while I quickly put three rings in each of their noses. The pigs are still able to root lightly but the rings make it uncomfortable and irritating to root deeply.

The pigs squeal more from being caught and held than from the actual piercing.


 This pig has hematoma (a pocket of blood and fluid) in his ear.  This is a result of shaking his head vigorously and injuring the ear or an injury that happened at birth.  He came to us like this and its slowly getting better.