How to Remove a Pig's Nose Ring

Pigs are sometimes fitted with nose rings to prevent them from rooting in the ground. The basic principle is that you don't want a pig to root excessively, because it could ruin crops or lead to disease or infection.
However, some may feel that the nose ring is unnecessary at best or cruel at worst. The rings can be painful for the pig.
Removing a pig's nose ring is fairly simple and can be done quickly. Read on to find out how.

Things You'll Need

  • Bolt cutters
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Instructions

  1. How to Remove a Pig's Nose Ring

    • 1

      Contain the pig.
      Removing the ring could result in injury, so you want to make sure that your pig is securely held down so that it does not jerk during the removal.
      If the pig is small, you may just have a second handler simply hold the animal.
      If the pig is large, you may need several handlers or a tightly fitted pen.

    • 2

      Snip the ring.
      Use bolt cutters to snip through the metal ring. This will allow the ring to move freely.

    • 3

      Pull the ring out.
      Depending on how completely the ring was fastened, you may be able to pull the whole ring out in one motion, or you may have to take the two halves out individually.

    • 4

      Consult a veterinarian.
      Have a veterinarian examine your pig to make sure that the wound left by the ring removal is not overly severe or likely to become infected.