State of the art on electronic identification of sheep and goat using passive transponders

Electronic identification using radiofrequency transponders is a new tagging technology that can provide a reliable and useful method for the control and recording of sheep and goats. Injectable, electronic ear-tags and ruminal bolus transponders are the devices used in sheep and goat electronic identification in practice and are reviewed in this paper. Injectable transponders are embodied into a bio-compatible glass capsule and are injected subcutaneously into the animals' body. The main problems observed are losses, breakages and recovery after slaughter. Advantages and drawbacks of different injection body sites and transponder technology are discussed. In conclusion, only the armpit and ear-base are recommended as suitable body sites for sheep in fi ld conditions. The armpit was also the recommended body site for subcutaneous injections in goats. Electronic ear-tags are at present applied in dairy sheep or dairy goat farms for automatic feeding of concentrates. The ear-tag weight must be limited when it is applied in young animals, reducing its reading distance and dynamic reading efficiency in consequence. The main advantages of ear-tags are related to its easy recovery and reutilization in the farm. The use of a ruminal bolus as a carrier of electronic devices is a new strategy for electronic identification of ruminants. With this aim, a ceramic bolus has been proposed to be used indistinctly in sheep, goat and cattle at different ages. Oral administration of bolus is easy and safe, but the application in animals heavier than 25 kg is only recommended in practice. No negative reaction or behaviour alteration were observed in any animal after bolus administration. No losses, breakages or failures were observed one year after application in grazing or semi-stabled sheep and goat and reading efficiency in restrained and in moving animals walking through a race-way was 100%. Two comparative trials using electronic ear-tags, injectable and ruminal bolus transponders carried out in two experimental dairy sheep farms, are also discussed. In conclusion, the electronic identification proved to be a reliable and useful tool for management and milk recording in dairy sheep.