Colorado Hopes RFID Can Protect Elk Herds

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January 16, 2006 (Computerworld) --

Colorado's RFID tests may lead to the tagging of other species.

The state of Colorado is testing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to see if they can help protect elk herds from contagious diseases.
Working with three ranchers and an animal-tracking vendor, the state last month wrapped up a pilot test that involved tracking 130 animals using passive RFID tags.
The state will start a second test in March that uses active RFID tags, which should extend the tracking range, said Scott Leach, a field investigator at the Colorado Department of Agriculture .
If the tests are successful, the state hopes to use RFID technology to help track animal diseases, including chronic wasting disease (CWD), a degenerative neurological illness endemic in Colorado and some other states.
CWD is viewed as a very serious threat to both captive and wild elk and deer. The state wants to use an automated system to track and isolate any CWD outbreaks.
Implementing an RFID tracking system could be an essential part of any effort to protect the elk population, said Myrna Hansen, co-owner of the Top Rac Elk Ranch in Fort Collins, Colo., which took part in the state's recent test.
Such a system could verify whether a herd had been exposed to the disease, which could mean the difference between destroying or saving the animals, she said.
Meeting U.S. Standards
Leach said the state is using the tests to see how the RFID tags work and to ensure that any system selected for the job meets federal National Animal Identification System (NAIS) specifications.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched the NAIS in 2003 as a way to set standards for automating the tracking of animals infected with so-called mad cow disease and other illnesses.
Leach said Colorado will likely extend those specifications to ensure that the RFID tags are affordable to ranchers and can track animals over a wide area without causing them injury.
Although the state is still evaluating the technology, Leach said RFID is clearly becoming its preferred tagging method.
If the tests do determine that the RFID tracking system works well for elk and deer populations, the state may decide to use the technology for tracking other species, such as range cattle, he said.
The state began the RFID testing process in late 2004.A herd of 130 elk were tagged in the pilot rollout using a passive identification system from Calgary, Alberta-based Advanced ID Corp.
According to Leach, the pilot went well, with handheld readers able to get test results from the elks' ear tags from a distance of up to eight feet.
But the test did determine that few animals came within range of scanners, thus prompting the plan to launch the second pilot using active tags. Leach said
no vendor has yet been selected to supply the active RFID chips, which can send out signals at set intervals instead of having to be scanned.

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