Improved Animal Traceability via Active EID

This Phase I SBIR research addresses two important and related needs regarding management of the national herd during an animal disease outbreak. First, is the need to facilitate keeping the national animal tracking databases (ATDs) as complete, accurate, and up-to-date as possible. The second is the need to immediately stop the transport of potentially-infectious animals during an animal disease outbreak without completely shutting down the flow of commerce. To address these needs, SSI?s existing TrueTag system, which is currently being field validated, will be expanded to add Transport Manifest Records (TMRs) to the tag data of individual animals. TrueTag comprises an active electronic identification (EID) tag capable of securely storing confidential health- and premises-history data directly on-animal. Each external tag is also coupled with an electronic rumen bolus. The resulting system provides secure, tamper-proof, electronic identification as well as continuous monitoring of each animal?s deep-body temperature. The external tag comprises a transceiver which can securely communicate with other external devices. This capability provides an opportunity to securely use confidential on-animal premises-history data to quickly stop the transport of potentially-infectious animals without stopping the transport of healthy animals. The transceiver can also facilitate automated updates of the national animal tracking databases (ATDs). Automated updates can improve accuracy and completeness of the databases while reducing data-entry costs and delays. Up-to-date and more complete ATDs will improve animal traceability during an animal disease event.