Case study: Perryfoot Farm

Perryfoot Farm in Peak Forest, Derbyshire is to look at the use of electronic identification to monitor movement of sheep. It is one of 68 farms taking part in a Defra project to test the effectiveness of Electronic Identification (EID) and Electronic Data Transfer (EDDT) in real-time working environments.

 

 

Following proposals by the European Commission, all sheep must be electronically tagged by 2008. Despite receiving widespread support from sections of the farming industry, the project is generating some negative response from certain farm owners who believe it is costly and time consuming.

 

If the scheme were implemented, farmers could be faced with bills for new computers, scanning devices and tags, the latter of which can each cost around $2.5 for ear tags and $5.8 for boluses at present.

 

The trial, which also includes some abattoirs and markets began in March 2004 and will run until May 2005, by which time an estimated 70,000 sheep will have been electronically identified.

 

The pilot will be looking at how easy the equipment is to use, and the training and support requirements for use of RFID and EDT. It will also identify the potential benefits to the sheep industry.

 

 

Brian Merell, Project Manager of ADAS, who are running the trial said: "This Defra-funded project is unique in bringing together an evaluation of technologies and farmer perceptions of EID into a single study, the results of which will help ensure the successful rollout of EID, in light of emerging EU regulations on sheep identification."

This case study is from the IDTechEx RFID Knowledgebase of over 1500 case studies of RFID in action. Please visit www.rfidbase.com 

 

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