Patent ID: 6901885

Claim:
Apparatus for applying a tattoo mark to a hog prior to sending the hog to market, comprising: a confining cage into which the hog can enter and from which the hog can leave; at least one confining gate assembly movable from a first closed position in which the gate assembly acts to bar the passage of the hog to retain the hog within the confining cage to a second open position in which the gate assembly allows passage of the hog to be released from the confining cage; a tattoo head having marking members thereon by which impact of the tattoo head on the skin of the hog applies a tattoo mark to the skin; a drive mechanism for driving movement of the tattoo head for impacting the skin, the drive mechanism being mounted on the confining cage; and a control unit; the control unit being arranged to actuate the drive mechanism for applying the tattoo and the control unit being arranged to actuate movement of the gate assembly between the first closed position and the second open position for controlling operation of the gate assembly and the drive mechanism for releasing the hog from the confining cage when the tattoo mark has been applied.