Animal
ID & Data: A Marriage of Technology
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by Dr. James I. Sprague
Marriage of technology and practical ideas
The need of many cattle people is not only animal ID for a mandated
reason, but the collection of data for management decisions. One of
the sessions at the Beef Stocker Field Day was the demonstration by
Dale Blasi and his co-workers at KSU of the equipment considered for
animal ID as well as normal record keeping. The various tags
used for the ratio frequency ID method (RFID) were demonstrated. Modified
cattle chutes, chute side readers for the tags, computers, software
for storage, and equipment for transmitting data were demonstrated.
Workable and practical technology
Tom Hogan, one of the developers of chute side equipment has invented
tools that will integrate the cattle handling activities with the
animal ID systems. Their company, Versilogik, has married the data
collection of several functions performed at chute side. Mr. Hogan
said, “We have combined several normal animal husbandry tools
so cattle people will not be intimidated by the tools.” For
example their equipment can, (1) read and record the animal ID, (2)
determine the premise ID, (3) read and record the bar code of medicine
being used and the dose administered, (4) apply the GPS coordinates
to determine the location of the work, (5) read and record the weight
of the animal, and (6) record the time and date of the event. All
or part of this data can be transmitted from chute side to (1) the
national ID data base or to the (2) local computer of the farm, ranch
or feedlot.
Invention and development already in use
Radio frequency transmission identification (RFID) of cattle is one
of the proposed methods of identity. Another proposed method is using
the pattern of retina of the eye and recording its image. Both systems
are now commercially available for not only livestock use but also
human and industrial ID. OptiBrand of Fort Collins, Colorado, has
developed a retinal ID and data collection system for cattle. For
example, RDIF is used to identify shipments of commercial products,
and retinal imaging is used for human security identification.
A necessity
Since the bovine spongiform encephalitis scare, the need for a disease
monitoring system has been recognized. According to Mark Spire, professor
and veterinarian at KSU at the 2004 Beef Stocker Field Day, a phase
in program has been proposed by US Department of Agriculture. The
focus is a 48 hour feedback to give “surveillance, control and
eradication.” The goal is difficult but may be possible
with the marriage of several technologies. ©
