Hand Held Field RFID Sample Collection and Testing
Executive summary:
Hand held data capture devices which can scan a cows ID using RFID technology is helping farmers improve the accuracy of their milk quality testing.
Milk is sample tested during the milking process to assist dairy farmers in the monitoring of the quality and productivity of their herds.
Each herd is tested every four to six weeks, with two samples taken from each cow on "herd test day".
Samples are tested for a number of components, including determining the percentage of protein and fat in milk, and quantifying the amount of milk produced. Samples provide information relating to specific cow's and to a herd of cattle.
The process traditionally used to record milk sample testing results required farmers to write on datasheets and sample bottles, to visually identify each cow, and to store samples in crates in a sequence that corresponds with the datasheets. Such processing is labour intensive, time consuming and subject to a high error rates.
Automatic identification of cattle:
Under the Australian Government's National Livestock Identification Scheme millions of cattle have been tagged with RFID tags fitted to cows ears. Tags contain electronic license plates that uniquely identify each cow. Tags can be read automatically as cows pass an RFID reader located in a fixed-point, such as at a sale yard gateway. Tags can also be read using hand-held readers.
Sample testing using mobile computers:
While the main purpose of tagging is to enable cattle to be tracked, tags are also an integral part of an innovative solution for recording readers located at dairy entry points, and software developed by Icon Global, the solution uses Symbol local area network communications and mobile computers, as shown below.
Business Benefits:
- Improved quality of milk
- Industry best practice
- Regular confirmation of cow's location & status
- Leveraging NLIS investment
Productivity Gains:
- Reduced processing time
- Reduced data entry time & errors
- Reduced handling of samples in field
- Optional automated handling in laboratory
Information Enhancements:
- Automated identification of cows
- Eliminates livestock identification errors
- More up to date herd data
- RFID reader to mobile computer