More RFID Journal Sites: RFID Journal Espanol RFID Journal Brasil RFID Journal Events RFID Journal Awards
Retail NEWS
Text size:
T
T
T
New Zealand Study Finds UHF Superior for Livestock Tracking
The trials were conducted during April and May of this year at the Totara Hills Deer Farm in Balclutha, and at the Canterbury Meat Packers facility in Ashburton. The Pathfinder Group developed prototype UHF ear tags but used commercially available interrogators and antennas, deployed in several configurations and portals. The trials tested the tags in relation to the speed of the animals' movements, the ability to read multiple tags simultaneously, read ranges and read rates. The tags were also tested under various conditions, including wet-weather simulations.
The results, Mayo says, were impressive. With sheep, half of the 32 test runs resulted in 100 percent tag readability, while another five showed more than 90 percent readability. For cattle, four of the 11 test runs resulted in 100 percent readability, while four of the 13 test runs for deer registered 100 percent readability. "I think we have shown clear reasons why UHF technology should be investigated further, including price and performance," Mayo says. "It makes sense to look at new technology as it develops, in order to generate the most benefits from RFID."
The Pathfinder Group recommended further testing of UHF tags, including tags operating in both RF bands allocated for RFID use in New Zealand (864 to 868 MHz and 921 to 929 MHz), under all weather conditions, with larger test sample sizes and in other applications, such as saleyards.
According to Mayo, the group hopes to work with NAIT to determine if it can take the next step with UHF—from feasibility to proven technology and, eventually, to commercial rollout. However, Purcell says, NAIT does not have the authority to invest in research and development. "Our mandate is to develop and deploy an LF-based tracking system," he explains, "and Pathfinder will have to find other organizations to invest in research into UHF tags. But we do support investigation into enhancements of RFID technology."
Purcell acknowledges that the trials showed promising results. Pathfinder, he says, appears to have overcome past problems, such as water in animals affecting read rates, and the trial demonstrated good readability at fast rates. The group "cracked the challenges of using UHF tags to track livestock," he notes, adding that the next step would be to develop an end-to-end system.
"They need to develop a full RFID infrastructure, including tags, readers and hardware, but that is most likely to be years away," Purcell says. "NAIT does not have the luxury to put our plans on hold until that develops. LF is the standard because we know we can operate a tracking system successfully and have seen it happen around the world. We are not aware of a national system using UHF."
Purcell notes, however, that the system being developed by NAIT is "technology-neutral" and could, therefore, receive information in various ways. If UHF technology is proven in livestock tracking, he says, farmers could begin using UHF tags. "It is not an either-or situation—we could always run LF and UHF tags together without throwing the old system out," he states. "We are very interested in new technology and would be crazy not to be aware of what is around the corner."
more Retail articles
The results, Mayo says, were impressive. With sheep, half of the 32 test runs resulted in 100 percent tag readability, while another five showed more than 90 percent readability. For cattle, four of the 11 test runs resulted in 100 percent readability, while four of the 13 test runs for deer registered 100 percent readability. "I think we have shown clear reasons why UHF technology should be investigated further, including price and performance," Mayo says. "It makes sense to look at new technology as it develops, in order to generate the most benefits from RFID."
The Pathfinder Group recommended further testing of UHF tags, including tags operating in both RF bands allocated for RFID use in New Zealand (864 to 868 MHz and 921 to 929 MHz), under all weather conditions, with larger test sample sizes and in other applications, such as saleyards.
According to Mayo, the group hopes to work with NAIT to determine if it can take the next step with UHF—from feasibility to proven technology and, eventually, to commercial rollout. However, Purcell says, NAIT does not have the authority to invest in research and development. "Our mandate is to develop and deploy an LF-based tracking system," he explains, "and Pathfinder will have to find other organizations to invest in research into UHF tags. But we do support investigation into enhancements of RFID technology."
Purcell acknowledges that the trials showed promising results. Pathfinder, he says, appears to have overcome past problems, such as water in animals affecting read rates, and the trial demonstrated good readability at fast rates. The group "cracked the challenges of using UHF tags to track livestock," he notes, adding that the next step would be to develop an end-to-end system.
Purcell notes, however, that the system being developed by NAIT is "technology-neutral" and could, therefore, receive information in various ways. If UHF technology is proven in livestock tracking, he says, farmers could begin using UHF tags. "It is not an either-or situation—we could always run LF and UHF tags together without throwing the old system out," he states. "We are very interested in new technology and would be crazy not to be aware of what is around the corner."
