In the context of animal disease management, few threats have proved as persistent and challenging as African Swine Fever (ASF). With no vaccine currently available and transmission occurring both directly and indirectly, effective monitoring and control strategies remain our strongest line of defense. Among these, proper carcass identification plays a critical—if often underestimated—role. For veterinary professionals, regulatory agencies, and hunting associations, clear and compliant carcass marking is not only a logistical necessity, but a vital tool in limiting the spread of ASF across domestic and wild pig populations.
ASF is a viral disease that affects both wild boar and domestic pigs. Highly contagious and lethal, the virus can survive in carcasses, feed, and the environment for extended periods, making containment a complex challenge. Once introduced into a region, ASF has the potential to decimate pig herds, disrupt meat production, and inflict severe economic damage on entire sectors of agriculture.
What makes ASF particularly dangerous is its subtle presence in early stages. An infected animal may be asymptomatic for days, during which the virus can be unknowingly transmitted. This makes rapid and accurate carcass identification essential—not only for locating and isolating infection sources, but also for tracing movements, enforcing zone restrictions, and preventing further contamination.
In regions where hunting is a routine part of wildlife management, such as Poland and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe, the role of hunters becomes critical. It is through their cooperation with veterinary services that potential outbreaks can be spotted early—and this is where marking solutions like carcass tags come into play.
Regulations often define the framework, but it’s the day-to-day realities in the field that shape how effective those frameworks truly are. While the Polish Ministry of Agriculture mandates orange for official carcass marking, veterinary officers, game managers, and meat processing professionals have voiced a clear need for more flexibility. Responding to that demand, Bott has expanded its range of carcass identification marks beyond the legally required orange—introducing green, yellow, and red variants to support a broader range of operational scenarios.
This isn’t just a cosmetic update. In practice, color differentiation plays a crucial role in streamlining workflows, reinforcing biosecurity, and enhancing field communication. The reality is that in complex, fast-moving environments—particularly during ASF outbreaks—clarity can’t be left to chance. Multiple colors mean fewer mistakes, faster decisions, and better coordination between agencies and field teams.
The introduction of multiple colors didn’t originate in a design lab—it came from conversations with people who use these marks every day. Hunters trying to distinguish between different zones. Veterinarians juggling carcasses from multiple control regions. Inspectors needing to sort, prioritize, and document without delays.
Orange, while official, cannot cover every situation. For internal tracking purposes, such as recording carcasses from distinct ASF risk zones or differentiating between stages of inspection, additional visual cues are invaluable. With red used for carcasses from high-risk (red) zones and yellow for those from surveillance (yellow) zones, the system becomes more precise—both in terms of reporting and response.
By offering this range, Bott empowers professionals on the front lines with tools that match the complexity of their work. These additional colors aren’t replacements—they’re enhancements, making it easier to execute established protocols with accuracy and speed.
Introducing more colors into the marking system isn’t about disrupting regulation—it’s about supplementing it. The core purpose of a carcass tag remains unchanged: to identify, track, and contain. But when teams have the ability to use color-coded logic, they can move faster and reduce error. Internal coordination becomes smoother. Field documentation becomes more intuitive.
Green, for instance, might be assigned by a hunting club for internal logistics—such as separating inspected game from unprocessed specimens—or used at purchasing points to organize batches awaiting transport. The versatility of these colors lies in their ability to support custom workflows while still complying with core veterinary requirements.
From the outset, Bott has worked closely with professionals in the veterinary and hunting industries to make sure its solutions meet more than just legal criteria—they meet real-world needs. This expanded color system is a direct result of that collaboration. It’s not just a product line extension. It’s a toolset built around practical experience, designed to bring greater efficiency and clarity to one of the most critical processes in animal disease control.
The addition of multiple colors to carcass marking tools isn’t a stylistic choice—it’s a strategic one. In real-world veterinary and wildlife management settings, color-coding creates instant recognition and facilitates faster, more accurate decisions. Each color serves a clear purpose, turning every mark into more than just a label. It becomes a tool for communication, coordination, and control in the fight against African Swine Fever (ASF).
When time is critical and stakes are high, visual clarity matters. Whether it’s identifying the ASF status of a carcass, segmenting inventory, or streamlining inspection routines, color-coded logic turns complex information into immediate insight.
In areas affected by ASF, the division between infected and surveillance zones is not just administrative—it’s vital to containment. Red tags are used to mark carcasses originating from high-risk “red” zones. These marks serve as a visual warning, alerting veterinary authorities, transport handlers, and processors that the carcass comes from a confirmed ASF zone and must be treated with the highest level of caution.
Yellow marks, in contrast, are used for carcasses from the “yellow” or buffer zones—areas under close observation but without confirmed outbreaks. By using yellow, inspectors and hunters can quickly identify which carcasses are under stricter scrutiny, allowing for more efficient processing, sampling, or holding as required by protocol.
This visual hierarchy enables quicker field decisions and reduces miscommunication. Teams working across multiple zones can sort, report, and route carcasses more effectively, without relying solely on written logs or digital records that may lag behind field operations.
While red and yellow correspond to official ASF categories, green and other colors provide flexible tools for internal workflows. For example, a purchasing point may use green marks to identify carcasses that have passed preliminary inspection but are awaiting final documentation. A hunting club may assign green to carcasses destined for commercial sale, separating them from those intended for donation or local consumption.
In veterinary inspections, additional colors can be used to indicate sample status—such as “awaiting lab results” or “cleared for movement.” In larger logistics operations, they can support batch management, tracking product origin and chain of custody with simple visual confirmation.
This internal use of color-coded marking reduces reliance on paperwork in dynamic environments. It allows for faster sorting at collection points, simplifies vehicle loading, and ensures compliance with both internal SOPs and external regulations. It also minimizes the risk of human error by reinforcing decisions visually.
NIP: PL 6972314982
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