WO1990005448A1

WO1990005448A1 - Method and device and accesories to provide cattle with an individual identification, particularly for identification and registration

Info

Publication number: WO1990005448A1
Application number: PCT/NL1988/000050
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marcus Bernardes Bonafatius Gebbink
Original assignee: Leferink, Bernardus, Johannes
Priority date: 1987-04-29
Filing date: 1988-11-15
Publication date: 1990-05-31
Also published as: NL8701027A; AU2711688A

Abstract

The invention provides for a new method and means to be used for the legal obligation of identification and registration of cattle, which makes it possible to provide at any moment for such data, while using a programmed unique chip (2) which is hypodermically inplanted in a special manner. After the animal has been subjected to the inplanting operation a unique signal emitted from this chip (2) can be received by means of a detecting device (9, 11) while using a memory circuit (5), which signal is generated in the chip (2) while creating externally an electromagnetic field by means of the detecting device (9, 11). By connecting the detecting device (9, 11) to the registration device (16), a simple mass identification and registration of the cattle can be achieved.

Description

Met_ho_d and device and accesories to provide cattle with an individual identification, particularly for identification and registration .

The invention relates to a method to identify cattle with an individual mark, particularly for satisfying to the legal obligation of socalled cattle identification and registration, in order that such a mark can be read and registered respectively at any desired moment for a specific purpose. Several methods are in use for cattle to satisfy the legal requirement of identification and registration. A disadvantage of existing methods, using the application of externally located marks, is the chance of loss of an identification tab whereas for registration purposes there is moreover a considerable chance of perception errors and in addition, a full automatic registration is pertinent impossible.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide for a new method making it superfluous to introduce personal perceptions for identification and registration respectively with inherent chances of error. This now becomes possible by inplanting in each individual animal a uniquely programmed emitter, the emitting impulse being each time generated for a short while by bringing the emitter in an electromagnetic field which so induces the emitting energy externally.

The inventive method is characterized in that: a. the mark consists for each animal of an externally nearly identical and electronic memory or chip, encapsulated by a casing of very small size; b. in each case such externally identical but internally different uniquely programmed chip is inplanted per each animal at a hypodermic location which is insensible for external influences; c. the one-off programmed unique mark of the chip cannot retroactively be changed, neither J y electrical external affection nor otherwise; d. any animal, provided with such a unique mark can be detected by means of a mobile detecting device, thereby showing its unique identity to a suitable identification or registration device;

SUBSTITUTE SHEET e. tracing and if necessary, removal of said chip from the hypodermic location can be facilitated while using said detecting device.

This new method simultaneously meets various requirements which play a role while facing present problems for identification and registration of pigs; the identification ■code must be absolutely unique per each animal, it should not become lost and it should remain readable for at least 10 year. Furthermore the application for pigs should take place at an age of about three weeks, any trouble for the .animal should be excluded, inplantation must take place without problems, the results of perception should not in any way be affected by the dirt of an animal, a quick selection of animals in a sty or cattle house must be possible. Also the coded mark should be matchable with respect to the slaughter process and a quick detection and removal thereafter will be necessaiy.

In a first preferred embodiment of the invention the application of the encapsulated chip occurs in close vicinity of the jaw portions of the animal, while using an inserting device. For a second preferred embodiment of the invention the insertion of the encapsulated chip occurs in the immediate vicinity of the ear basis, that is to say, the transitory area located at the rearwardly directing connection between the center part of the ear shell and the head of the animal also while using an application device. It is further preferred that the application of the chip at its hypodermic location is preceded by an incision and whereafter such application the edges of the incision are sealed together by means of a special tissue glue. In the event that such a chip would have a small pill size it could be considered to apply it by means of a larger type of injection needle.

According to the application of the invented method an application device could be used as a plier shaped tool, preferably provided with first means to hold a chip, second means to apply for a small incision or penetration respectively, and third means for inserting and detaching the chip and thereafter fixing the chip in situ by means of a fixation means, preferably an adhesive or glue.

In another embodiment, said tool is provided with fourth means for effecting a cleaning operation and an adhesion operation respectively, the latter particularly by means of a special tissue adhesive or glue. According to the invention a detecting device is provided with a detecting element consisting of an antenna loop whereas the chip discloses its programmed mark upon a display device which is connected to the antenna loop. Instead of displaying data upon a reading device, such information could of course be simultaneously for inspection be recorded in a registration recording device.

The particularity of the detecting device is further characterized by the presence of an electromagnetic impulse signaling device for generating an electromagnetic field in the antenna loop, which in its turn induces a micro voltage tension as a result of which the electronic memory circuit transmits its unique identity, ready for direct reception. Depending upon the need for selection/registration, this electromagnetic field can be switched on for a short period or automatically be switched on for a permanent duration of time.

Test have been carried out which showed that according to the invention, a detecting device could have an emitting frequency for a chip which is so energized for emission, having a value of about 32 kilohertz, however this value should be unequal to the value of the chosen frequency of the electromagnetic field which is induced in the antenna loop.

Preferably the detecting device could generate in the antenna loop such a power which corresponds to the absorption band of the memory circuit in the chip and corresponding to a frequency band width between 9 and 150 kilohertz. Furthermore a detecting device according to the invention should be provided with an adjustable time recording restricting device to avoid wrong double detection.

Each chip to be used for the invented method is provided in a safely encapsulated form for the animal and it has preferably a largest size of 7-9 millimeters and it is also provided with a uniquely programmed mark which cannot be changed retroactively.

According to the invention a unique identification and registration system for use with cattle, consists of a great number of externally identical chips of minimal size, however each of which being provided with a uniquely programmed mark, an application device for applying to the animal a chip at a hypodermic location and nirther provided with at least one display and registration device respectively for detection of the unique mark of an animal or detecting its absence respectively.

The invention will hereafter be explained by means of the drawing showing some embodiments.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a fixed antenna gate for a pig which is provided with a unique mark according to the invented method;

Fig. 2 schematically shows an antenna loop which is connected to a reading device;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a chip applied for with the invented method;

Fig. 4 shows in cross section the chip of Fig. 3 ;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show a top view, and a side and front view respectively of a detecting and display device for connection with an antenna loop.

The pig 1 of fig. 1 has been preferably inplanted with a chip 2, vide figs. 3, 4 of very small size, hypodermically in the lower jaw at 3 or behind the ear at 4. Inplantation took e.g. place when the pig was still young, about an age of 3 weeks. The chip 2 having the greatest size of 7-9 mm includes a memory circuit 5 of which specific details are not shown. Already during the manufacturing of the chips 2 the possibility is created to apply to the chip a unique responding code by means of an electronic separation of its power portion and a digital portion. Moreover the unique chip information is provided with a digital protection against socalled crossing signals. Per each chip a quantity of e.g. 32 info bits can be used in which event the number of protectional bits consists of 1 + the exponential power belonging to the number of info bits. For the number of 32, representing the 5th exponential power of 2, the number of protectional bits is 1 + 5 = 6.

Taking into account a total number of e.g. 10,000,000 pigs in a country, it will be clear that one should have a sufficiently great number of info bits for the digital choice of a unique code to satisfy the requirements for identification and registration.

Moreover it will be absolutely necessary that the unique code of the chip 2 is permanently "frozen" so that it cannot be changed anymore by external influences. Within the digital portion of the chip there is provided e.g. a "sliding register" which provides during its manufacturing process every time a higher digit than was given to the previously produced chip.

In fig. 1 a fixed antenna gate 6 is shown which is connected to a detecting device 7 upon which the unique mark of a pig can be read and/or simultaneously be registered when the pig passes through the gate. The antenna gate, if permanently in use, could be built in a gate construction or the like while maintaining the required electromagnetic flux which is generated to the chip 2 in order to energize the emitter by an impulse. In a fixed arrangement the detecting device 7 can be connected at choice to a data processing unit which takes care for further registration.

In fig. 2 there is shown a round loose antenna loop 8 which is easily demountably connected to a detecting device 9, in such a manner that the loop 8 of the antenna can be easily placed across the head of a pig 1, thereby generating the electromagnetic field in the surface of the antenna loop 8 by means of a control knob provided upon the detecting device 9. Apart therefrom it is arranged that the connections 10 between the antenna loop and the detecting device 9 will become unfastened without any damage as a result of unexpected movements which one or more pigs would make during the detection.

Another embodiment of the detecting device 9 of fig. 2 is shown in more detail in figs. 5-7. The detecting pistol is provided with a hand grip 12 with a trigger 13 to create a short energy impulse to an inplanted chip 2 which is located at the inzide of the electromagnetic field of the antenna loop 6 and 8 respectively. At the upper side of the device there is a display window 13 showing the unique code in the event a chip 2 is detected whereas there are further provided various indicating lamps 14 and windows 15 for signalization of a number of functions.

A serial connecting port 16 can be used for a possible recording of data to a registration device and all this could easily be packed away in a bag having a battery or the like connector.

To inplant a chip 2 in an animal use can be made of a plier shaped tool or even of an enlarged injection needle, not further shown in the drawing. In both cases it is, in respect to the size of the chip 2 to be inserted, desirable that for this purpose attention is given to the sterility of the entirely and safely encapsulated chip 2. Under circumstances it could be desirable to effect the application by means of a collar mould for inplanting the chip precisely and uniformly for all animals at the desired location.For use with an injection needle a guide can be preformed; in the event that a plier shaped tool is used, the mould can be adapted in such a way while applying it to the jaw or nearby the ear, that the said uniformity is guaranteed.

The application of an incision or a penetration respectively, accompanied by sealing and fixation can be performed by means of tissue adhesive or glue or the like and means should be provided enabling at the same time to hold the chip 2 before its insertion and other means to make the incision or penetration and subsequently its application, its release and its fixation. All of these operations should be of a short duration and so guarantee that from that moment on, each animal has been provided with a unique identification and registration mark.

Patent Claims:

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Method to identify cattle with an individual mark, particularly for satisfying to the legal obligation of socalled identification and registration, in order that such a mark can be read and registered at any desired time for a specific purpose, characterized in that: a. the mark consists for each animal of an externally nearly identical and electronic memory or chip, encapsulated by a casing of very small size; b. in each case such externally identical but internally different uniquely programmed chip is inplanted per each animal at a hypodermic location which is insensible for external influences; c. the one-off programmed unique mark of the chip cannot retroactively be changed, neither by electrical external affection nor otherwise; d. any animal, provided with such a unique mark can be detected by means of a mobile detecting device, thereby showing its unique identity to a suitable identification or registration device; e. tracing and if necessaiy, removal of said chip from the hypodermic location can be facilitated while using said detecting device.

2. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the application of the encapsulated chip occurs in close vicinity of the jaw portions of the animal, while using an inserting device.

3. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the insertion of the encapsulated chip occurs in the immediate vicinity of the ear basis, that is to say, the transitory area located at the rearwardly directing connection between the center part of the ear shell and the head of the animal.

4. Method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the application of the chip at its hypodermic location is preceded by an incision and whereafter such application the edges of the incision are sealed together by means of a special tissue glue.

5. Inserting device for use with the method according to any of the foregoing claims 1-4, characterized in that a plier shaped tool is provided with first means to hold a chip, second means to apply for a small incision or penetration respectively, and third means for inserting and detaching the chip and thereafter fixing the chip in situ by means of a fixation means, preferably an adhesive or glue.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in, that said tool is provided with fourth means for effecting a cleaning operation and an adhesion operation respectively, the latter particularly by means of a special tissue adhesive or glue.

7. Detecting device for use with the method according to claims 1-4, characterized in that the detecting element consists of an antenna loop whereas the chip discloses its programmed mark upon a display device which is connected to the antenna loop.

8. Detecting device according to claim 7, characterized by an electromagnetic impulse signaling device for generating an electromagnetic field in the antenna loop, which in its turn induces a micro voltage tension as a result of which the electronic memory circuit transmits its unique identity, ready for direct reception.

9. Detecting device according to any of the foregoing claims 7-8, characterized in that the emitting frequency of a chip which is so energized for emission, has a value of about 32 kilohertz, however unequal to the value of the chosen frequency of the electromagnetic field which is induced in the antenna loop.

10. Detecting device according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the memoiy circuit of the chip has a reach of absorption for the induction within the antenna loop of a frequency band width between 9 and 150 kilohertz.

11. Detecting device according to claim 7, characterized in that the detecting element is provided with a serial port for connection with a registration-recording device.

12. Detecting device according to claim 11, characterized in that the detecting element is provided with an adjustable time recording restricting device to avoid double detection.

13. Chip to be used for the method according to claims 1-4, characterized in that any safely encapsulated chip for the animal preferably has a greatest size of 7-9 millimeters and is also provided with a uniquely programmed mark which cannot be changed retroactively.

14. Identification and registration system for use with cattle, consisting of chips of minimal size, each provided with a uniquely programmed mark, an application device for applying to the animal a chip at a hypodermic location and further provided with a display and registration device respectively for detection of the unique mark of an animal while adapting a combination of steps according to at least one of the foregoing claims 1-13.

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