Scottish Government

Electronic Identification (EID)

Electronic identification, often referred to as EID, is a tool which allows keepers to record information on individual animals more quickly and easily, especially where large numbers of animals are moved at speed. The electronic identifier has a microchip which contains the animal's individual number. The electronic identifier can be an ear tag, a bolus (an identifier in a container that is swallowed and stays in the animal's stomach) or a pastern tag (a band around the animal's lower leg). The number in the microchip can be read by using an electronic reader.

New European rules intended to improve traceability by introducing individual animal recording came into force on 31 December 2009 for sheep. This will allow us to manage disease outbreak more effectively and these new rules are implemented and enforced by the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) (Scotland) Order 2009. EID applies to all sheep born in Scotland as the UK has over 600,000 sheep which is the threshold for mandatory EID. It does not apply to goats as the UK has a population of less then 160,000 which is the mandatory threshold for EID for goats.

Scotland will face challenges in the introduction of EID and the Scottish Government has agreed to fund Research Work including a large scale EID Research Pilot to help find a workable and affordable EID system. This is being taken forward by independent co-ordinators, SAOS, at the request of the joint Scottish Government/Industry Working Group. Phase I results of the pilot are available.

Previous Research has been undertaken on behalf of the joint Scottish Government/Industry Working Group looking at:-

Links:-

Evaluating the Effect of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) in Transceivers (Readers) Used to Identify Animals Electronically - November 2006

Investigation into the Effect of Acoustic/Mechanical Inference on Radio Frequency Identity (RFID) Systems used to Identify Animals Electronically. - March 2008

A Study of the Susceptibility of Animal Tag Reading RFID Equipment to Interference from Acoustic Signals Present in the Abbattoir and Auction Market Environment - September 2009

Auditing and Testing of Animal Electronic Identification Reading (Transceivers) Equipment EMC Immunity and Magnetic Field Characterisation - October 2009

Auditing and Testing of Animal Electronic Reading (Transceivers) Equipment Summery Conclusion - November 2009