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| RFID technology has been used to identify millions of livestock
animals around the world. These systems track meat and dairy animals, valuable breeding stock and
laboratory animals involved in lengthy and expensive research projects. RFID transponders are worn
as ear tags or as inter-ruminal capsules. Farm management can be fully automated for such processes
as feeding, weighing, disease management, and breeding practices. The future of the livestock industry
is headed toward global livestock identification and source verification of herd of origin of all types
of livestock and usage of electronic identification systems to help with disease tracking and to improve
consumer confidence. |
| This growing number of countries exporting animals to other countries
has led to the establishment of record keeping standards that use RFID as the main identification. Using
a unique numbered RFID tag provides a very efficient method of identifying animals and collecting data
far more quickly. |
| RFID tags can be safely attached or even implanted inside livestock
and will last for the entire lifetime of the animal. RFID therefore enables the recording and tracking
of individual animals over their entire lifecycle, even in a herd of thousands. Since each RFID tag is
unique, a livestock database that keeps track of the animal’s origin, parentage and breed can be easily
created. Continued tagging over generations of livestock creates a genetic history that helps establish
lineage, maintain quality of stock and improve breeds. Each database can be integrated into a regional or
national animal ID system that records nationwide animal location, ownership and trade, creating a ready
reference for farm owners, breeders and health officials. |
| Livestock tagging using RFID allows the storage of information on
each animal pertaining to breeding data, feeding data and yield data. Milking and egg laying records
are easily maintained, enabling categorization, individual corrective action or group improvement.
RFID helps improve farm management through increased efficiencies, reduced feed and labour costs,
enhanced output and improved herd health. |
| RFID tagging provides cross-referencing with packaging of end products
such as milk, eggs and meat. An RFID based national ID system can track the source of end products, which
can now be easily identified, traced and recalled if required. |
| Tagging of rare animals and monitoring them is another major advantage
RFID has provided. |
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