Marking Sprays: Colour That Shows Up Fast in the Pig House

Marking Sprays: Visible Fast, Limited in Time

Some things only need to show in the house for a few weeks: the animal that has been treated, the group for the next transport, the sow due a check. Colour is the right answer for that. It goes on in seconds, can be picked out right across the pen and later grows out again by itself. Here you will find sprays and crayons in a broad choice of colours.

Spray for distance, crayon for a precise line

The livestock marking spray is the quick answer. You work from a few metres away, do not have to hold an animal and do not unsettle the group. The range holds the TopMarker livestock marking spray, the TopMarker sheep marking spray and the Raidex livestock marking spray. The marking crayon is the counterpart for close work. The RAIDL crayons have a twist mechanism with which you wind the chalk out and protect it again after the job, and they sit well in the hand even with a glove on. Alongside them comes the TopMarker marking crayon. A crayon uses less colour and puts a cleaner line on, but calls for an animal standing still.

A colour system on the unit

The RAIDL crayons come in blue, yellow, green, orange, red, black, violet and white. That choice of colours is the real benefit, because only then can you build a system everyone on the unit understands without asking: red for treated animals, blue for loading, green for a check. Write the system down and use it the same way across every pen. On dark skin or wet bristles, light colours show up better, and on pale animals strong shades work. The mark is rub resistant and survives rain and rubbing, but stays a solution for a limited time, because it grows out with the bristles.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a mark last?
Depending on the product, the weather and the housing it is a few weeks. The colour stands up to rain and rubbing but grows out with the bristles. For a permanent record you need the ear tag, and colour covers the day to day in between.

Can I use sheep spray on pigs as well?
Yes, the formulation is meant for use on the animal and works on the same principle. With pigs, look above all for a strong colour, because short bristles take up less pigment than wool does.

What should I watch when spraying?
A dry, reasonably clean patch of skin, around 30 centimetres of distance and a short burst on the back or shoulder. Shake the can well beforehand and always mark in the same place, then the record stays unambiguous.