Marking device

A marking device for applying marking indicia to the subcutaneous area of animals prior to slaughter, comprising:

• an elongate handle;
• a housing secured to one end of said handle;
• a needle holder assembly secured to said housing;
• a marking unit including a needle support, a plurality of hollow marking needles on said support and being arranged to define a number, said marking unit being mounted on said housing by said holder assembly;
• means defining a chamber in said housing communicating with said needles;
• ink dispensing means comprising a pump cylinder on said housing containing marking ink and communicating with said needles, a plunger being extensible and retractable in said pump cylinder and projecting outwardly of the latter, said plunger when in the extended position having its outer end extending beyond the needles, said plunger when moved to the retracted position causing ink to flow from the pump housing into and through the needles, whereby when the marking device is applied to the skin of an animal, such as a hog, the actuator will first engage to the animal's skin just prior to penetration of the needles through the skin whereby ink will be dispensed in a predetermined pattern through the needles into the subcutaneous fat layer of the animal.