A tattoo mark is applied to a hog prior to sending the hog to market within a
sorting
cage with a weigh scale for detecting a weight of the hog and a sorting gate operated
by a control unit in response to the detected weight. The mark is applied by 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 and a drive mechanism for
driving movement of the tattoo head from a retracted position to an operating position
for impacting the skin, the drive mechanism being mounted on a mounting assembly
separate from and attached to the confining cage at the confining cage. The control
unit is arranged, in response to the determination of a hog weight above the predetermined
limit, to operate the drive mechanism to apply the tattoo head to the skin to apply
the mark to the hog for market while operating the gate to release the hog to the
market pen.
