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NAIS needs practical, accurate technologyBy Doug Rich The success of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) will depend in part on the success of the supporting technology. The ability of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and readers to collect the information needed for reliable, accurate traceback is vital to NAIS. The ID-Info Expo 2007, sponsored by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, began with a tour of the Animal Identification Knowledge Lab at Kansas State University (KSU). KSU signed a cooperative agreement with USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in 2006 to study factors that compromise electronic technologies designed to track cattle movements. Dale Blasi, professor of animal science at KSU, and other researchers are working with the Kansas Animal Health Department (KAHD), the Kansas Department of Commerce (KDC) and other agencies and companies to conduct this research. According to Blasi the project has three primary objectives: 1. To characterize the incidence and extent of ambient environmental interference affecting radio frequency tag and reader function in commercial cattle auction market sites, packing plants, and commercial feedlot processing facilities. 2. To determine the extent of variation of read-range performance by numerous electronic tag and reader manufacturers' products. 3. To determine the amount of new investment in technology and the additional variable costs in equipment, facilities and management that cattle auction markets would need to incur to comply with a cattle identification system. As part of this study 1,000 producers were surveyed to gauge their perceptions to animal identification. The top four concerns were confidentiality, reliability of technology, cost to producers, and liability. The work being done at KSU will answer some of these questions. Producers also wonder why RFID tags have been selected as the preferred technology. Blasi explained that tags with bar codes have been around for 30 years but do not work well in dirty conditions. RFID tags are a sister technology to bar codes and work well in robust animal handling conditions. The tags can be read through non-metallic materials and do not require line-of-sight to be read accurately. RFID tags contain a silicon chip and an antenna that enable it to receive and respond to radio-frequency queries from an RFID transceiver. Researchers at KSU are evaluating 3,000 RFID tags, both half and full duplex types, representing six different tag manufacturers, although the study contains half duplex tags from only one manufacturer because that is all that was available at the time the project was initiated. "We purchased tags thorough normal distribution systems from what was readily available to producers at the time," Karol Fike, research associate, said. The performance of these tags and their readers is being studied in laboratory and real-life working conditions. Although the RFID tags can be read through non-metallic materials, the signal can be disrupted in various situations. One of the first things researchers learned at the KSU Animal Identification Knowledge Lab was that the ballast in the overhead lights interfered with the signal. The ballast was changed and research was resumed. Part of the research involved going into feedlots, auction barns, and processing plants with testing equipment to determine what might interfere with the signal from readers to RFID tags. At the present time performance standards for RFID technology do not exist in this country. This research could provide the foundation for RFID performance standards. RFID tags are the technology of choice right now but new disruptive technology is being developed as NAIS moves forward. Disruptive technology is any new technology that may overturn current technology. The newest identification technology to be reviewed at the ID-Info Expo was synthetic biometrics technology. This is not part of the tests being done at KSU because it is still under development and not available on the market. Mark Pydynowski with SOMARK Innovations reviewed this potentially disruptive technology. It combines ink tattoos, which have been in use for many years, with the latest in biometrics technology. This ink contains electronic properties that can be read just like an RFID tag. Pydynowski described it as an electronic fingerprint that is unique and permanent. The system components include an ink tattoo animal identification number (AIN), a reusable applicator, a disposable cartridge with ink tattoo and micro-needles, and a handheld or chute reader. The tattoo is placed on the rump next to the tail head and is there for life, according to Pydynowski. This technology is still in the development stage but successful animal tests have been done. Pyydynowski said they are working to refine the ideal system and determine user requirements. "Identification is a tool, animal health is the goal," Dr. John Huntley, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, said. Doug Rich can be reached by phone at 785-749-5304 or by e-mail at richhpj@aol.com. 9/17/07
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