How to adopt an animal identification system

Apr 30, 2007 12:24 PM

Source: Kansas State University

Get this widget!

Determining what a particular business needs to do to adopt an animal identification tracking system requires considerable assessment of individual company goals and facility needs. Below are a few simple steps to help livestock markets in this decision.

1. Register for a NAIS premise identification number.
2. Determine the needs and goals of the business; including customer needs. Do they include individual animal identification or tracking?
3. Research companies that offer animal identification products.
4. Select an animal identification company to work with.
5. Schedule a site survey with the company of choice.
6. Meet with a field representative at the livestock market during the site survey.
7. Approve the final plan/drawing of the new reader system from the company.
8. Complete facility modifications that need to occur before the installment of the reader system.
9. Install the new reader system.
10. Have RFID tagged cattle available to test the RFID reader system at the time of installation to verify accuracy of the reading system and compatibility with the livestock market software program. The testing process should be conducted while the RFID installation technician is on-site.
11 . Maintain contact with the provider of the livestock market clerking software prior to and during the installation process to assure the software is RFID compatible.
12. Begin using the new reader system.
13. Continually monitor read rate success of the RFID reading system and convey results to equipment vendor.

The first step in the process, registering for a premise identification number (PIN), can be done by contacting the State Department of Agriculture, State NAIS Coordinator, or by registering online at the USDA NAIS Web site: http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/premises_id/register.shtml. The information collected from the auction facility to complete the premise registration process will include: name of entity, contact person name, address for the premise, contact phone number, and operation type (i.e., livestock market). An auction company can register the premise and decide not to carry out any of the other steps of NAIS. However, if the facility wants to go on to the next step and officially record animal movements under NAIS, a PIN is necessary.

Next, the facility needs to determine the needs and goals of the business and associated customers (livestock buyers and sellers). If goals of the business and current or prospective customers include the use of individual electronic animal identification and/or animal tracking, the livestock market should consider animal identification and tracking options.

If the livestock market elects to invest in animal identification readers they should begin researching available alternatives and determine how these fit into existing facilities. The NAIS website lists registered official NAIS dealers of RFID tags many of whom also sell readers. Also, the Beef Stocker USA Web site (www.beefstockerusa.org) includes a list of companies offering products to the animal identification industry and compares them based on many different factors including types of readers and tags, data management, and costs. Because variability in costs, options, and uses vary, it is important to research the companies to find the best fit to the business.

Since the inception of the NAIS program, many companies not traditionally involved in the livestock identification industry have decided to invest in the production and marketing of individual animal identification tags (more specifically RFID tags) and RFID readers. Time would be well spent to extensively research the company(s) being considered to equip the livestock market with RFID tags and reading equipment. There are several questions that should be answered:

1. Is the company’s technology cross-compatible with technology from a competing company? (This would allow the market to not be locked into one company if issues arise.)
2. Are the RFID tags/readers to be installed created under the ISO 11 784/11 785 guidelines?
3. What are the average retention rates on the company’s RFID tags?
4. What are the average read rates of the company’s RFID readers?
5. Is the RFID reading system to be installed scalable to accommodate market growth in the future?
6. Is a list of references available of other livestock markets that have used the RFID technology from this company?

Before choosing an animal-tracking company to work with, it would be advisable to talk to other livestock market owners and producers that have experiences with RFID technology to obtain a perspective of what has worked well and, perhaps more importantly, what has not worked well in their operations.

After choosing the animal-tracking company, set up a “site survey.” During a site survey, the animal-tracking equipment company will send a field representative to the livestock market to assess the best location for RFID readers and the ideal type of technology for the facility. This is a crucial meeting because most livestock markets will need a custom-built reader system installed. As a follow-up to the site survey, the field representative will send a detailed drawing of the proposed RFID reading system plan to the livestock market. The drawings from the company of choice should include information on electrical supply needs for the reader system and how the RFID reader system will access the livestock market’s computer system (i.e., through wireless or tied directly into a computer), all of which should be discussed during the site survey. This plan will allow the livestock market to decide if the proposed plan will fit their needs. At this time, it will become apparent as to the amount of facility modifications that are needed before the company can install RFID readers. The time frame for installation of the RFID reading system will vary dramatically depending on the extent of modifications needed to accommodate the reading system at the livestock market.

As decisions are being made to incorporate RFID technology at the livestock market, it is critical to work closely with the livestock market’s software provider. By working with the software provider, one can better assure that the new RFID system will comply with existing computer systems. Compatible computer systems help assure that RFID tags that are read can be recorded into the computer system and reported accordingly.

Once the RFID reading system has been installed, tested, and it has been verified that the RFID reads have been captured and properly stored in the livestock market’s clerking software package, the reader system should be ready for daily use. The system may work perfectly or may need improvements to accommodate smooth and timely animal movements. The livestock market needs to be flexible, and work with the company where the readers were purchased to make the transition successful. It is important to understand that all livestock markets need to be prepared for imperfections with their new systems. The livestock market also needs to be aware of the different animal-tracking databases and know how to comply with each.

Subscribe to American Cowman Update e-newsletter!

Breaking industry news in your e-mail inbox every other week!
Subscribe at http://subscribe.americancowman.com/subscribe.cfm.