Working of Active RFID Tag in Tests on Pigs and Horses

Abstract

Active RFID beacon tags, combined with technologies based on the use of area markers, are a solution to automate the recording of data about the identification of the animals in the space. The tags available on the market are still of big size when applied on animals because they are designed for automotive or logistic purposes. The applicability of tags as well as their correct functioning are related to the size and the body structure of the animal species taken into consideration. Previous studies were carried out on pigs. Although the hard experimental conditions, the trials with pigs provided enough information to test RFID active tags on other animal species. An experimental trial has been recently conducted with horses. Inside a paddock three different areas were bordered with the markers: drinking place, manger and resting room. Two horses were equipped with tags. Horses have a completely different body structure from pigs. The tag application is simpler. Furthermore horses behave in a different way from pigs inside a bounded area. Therefore also the tags work differently displaying records more clearly and computably. Outcomes of RFID tags were compared with video recordings obtained in the same situation in order to count missteps or loss of data. The results show critical states related to the animals, size of the area monitored, presence of interference situations and other parameters. The evaluation tests carried out on pigs and horses provide information about how the system works. The different conditions recorded on pigs and horses are useful to understand how to apply this technology in different cases of study.