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Case Analysis of Application of Radio Frequency Identification Technology in Animal Management of Animal Husbandry
In the past decade, animal disease outbreaks have been increasingly frequent across the globe, significantly impacting the livestock industry, particularly in Europe. These incidents have drawn widespread international attention, prompting governments—especially in Europe—to implement strict policies and legal frameworks to manage and control such outbreaks. As a result, countries have intensified their oversight of animal husbandry and trade, with animal identification and tracking becoming a key strategy.
Animal identification and tracking involve using specific labels or technologies to uniquely identify and monitor animals, enabling the management of their attributes and movements. This system plays a crucial role in preventing the spread of foreign animal diseases, protecting native species, and ensuring the safety of international animal product trade. It also enhances government efforts in vaccination, disease prevention, and improves the ability to diagnose and respond to animal health emergencies both domestically and globally. Therefore, animal identification is not just a necessity for agriculture but also a national policy and an international standard.
The following sections will focus on the identification and tracking systems for cattle, pigs, and sheep.
**Cattle Identification and Tracking**
A comprehensive tracking system for cattle has been established in Europe. In September 1998, the UK introduced a cattle tracking program, which was fully implemented by EU member states by the end of 1999. From July 1, 2000, all cattle born or imported into the UK were required to be digitally identified. The process includes identification, farm records, and licensing. Each cow must be tagged within 20 days of birth, with a unique identification code that remains with the animal throughout its life. Farm records document all relevant details, including birth, import, movement, and death. A CTS (Cattle Tracing System) license is issued for each animal, storing all its life history data. The CTS system, developed and funded by the UK government, is used to track and manage cattle efficiently.
**Pig Identification and Tracking**
Starting November 1, 2003, the UK introduced new pig identification standards. The regulations distinguish between pigs sent directly to slaughterhouses under one year old and those over one year old heading to other destinations, requiring different identification methods.
**Sheep Identification and Tracking**
From January 1, 2008, EU regulations mandated electronic identification for sheep. To test the effectiveness of this system, Delta conducted real-time electronic identification and digital transmission experiments in 2004. Farmers, pastures, and slaughterhouses selected various electronic systems. The testing was completed in March 2005, with a report submitted in June of the same year.
Additionally, from June 30, 2004, all horses in the UK were required to be identified and tracked.
**Common Animal Identification Methods**
Traditional methods include ear tags, back tags, necklaces, tail markings, freeze branding, tattoos, paint labels, and leg bands. However, in recent years, radio frequency identification (RFID) has become a vital tool in animal management due to its efficiency and reliability.
**RFID Technology**
RFID is a contactless automatic identification technology that offers large data storage capacity, read/write capabilities, strong signal penetration, long reading distance, fast reading speed, long service life, and good environmental adaptability. It is the only technology capable of identifying multiple targets simultaneously.
An RFID system consists of a reader and an electronic tag. When an animal equipped with an electronic tag enters the reader’s range, the reader automatically reads the information stored on the tag without physical contact, enabling efficient identification and data collection.
**(1) Reader**
RFID readers typically include components like a control system, communication interface, microstrip antenna, and power supply. A handheld reader (HR) is designed for mobile users, featuring an LCD keyboard and barcode scanning module. It supports communication interfaces like 802.11 or RS232, runs on a rechargeable battery, and uses operating systems like WinCE. It has 32MB flash memory and 32MB RAM, with an internal antenna or probe detector.
**(2) Electronic Tags**
Electronic tags consist of data storage, processing, communication interfaces, microstrip antennas, and power supplies. They are divided into passive and active types based on power source. Passive tags draw power from the reader’s RF signal, resulting in shorter read ranges but lower cost and longer lifespan. Active tags use their own battery, allowing longer read distances and less demand on the reader. In most animal tracking applications, passive tags are preferred due to their cost-effectiveness and reliability.
**(3) RFID Data Communication**
RFID data communication enables seamless exchange of information between the tag and the reader, supporting real-time tracking, record-keeping, and data analysis for better decision-making in animal management.