Adaption and assessment of a UHF-RFID system for livestock management

A prerequisite for the implementation of concepts of precision livestock farming is data acquisition on the level of the individual animal, which is only possible on a large scale by applying electronic animal identification. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems in the ultra-high frequency range (UHF, 860 960 MHz) offer the possibility of simultaneous detection of transponders and a variably adjustable read range of more than 3 m. Until now, these systems were, however, only insufficiently adapted to the operating conditions in livestock farming. In collaboration with industry partners, passive UHF-RFID transponders for integration into ear tags for cattle and pigs and readers have been developed and tested. The objective of this thesis was the adaption and assessment of this UHF-RFID system for livestock farming. In particular, 1) the construction and test of a static test bench for UHF-RFID ear tags, 2) the development of a method of measuring the influence of ear tissue on the performance of UHF-RFID ear tags, and 3) the application and validation of the UHF-RFID system for monitoring of trough visits of growing-finishing pigs should be carried out. The experiments supported the selection and further development of UHF transponder ear tags and reader antennas for application in livestock farming. A suitable test method for UHF-RFID technology in the fields of research covered was established and applied for the first time. It repeatedly became clear during the experiments that the greatest challenge for the application of UHF transponders in ear tags is the reduction of the sensitivity against ear tissue. In addition to the monitoring of animal health with UHF-RFID, further research could be carried out regarding the positioning of animals for measurement of motion activity, the combination of transponders with sensors, for example, to measure body temperature, and the utilisation of the technology for implementation of the Internet of Things in food supply chains.Voraussetzung für die Umsetzung von Konzepten des Precision Lifestock Farming ist eine einzeltierbezogene Erfassung von Tierdaten, die in großem Maßstab nur durch eine elektronische Tierkennzeichnung ermöglicht wird. Radiofrequenzidentifikationssysteme (RFID) im Ultrahochfrequenzbereich (UHF, 860-960 MHz) bieten die Möglichkeit der Simultanerfassung von Transpondern sowie eine flexibel einstellbare Lesereichweite von mehr als drei Metern. Bisher wurden jedoch UHF-RFID-Systeme nur unzureichend an die Einsatzbedingungen in der Tierhaltung angepasst. In Zusammenarbeit mit Industriepartnern wurden passive UHF-RFID-Transponder zur Integration in Ohrmarken für Rinder und Schweine sowie Lesegeräte entwickelt und getestet. Ziel dieser Arbeit war die Anpassung und Bewertung dieses UHF-RFID-Systems für die Nutztierhaltung. Teilziele waren 1.) die Konstruktion und der Test eines statischen Prüfstandes für UHF-RFID-Ohrmarken, 2.) die Entwicklung einer Methode zur Messung des Einflusses von Ohrgewebe auf die Leistungsfähigkeit von UHF-RFID-Ohrmarken und 3.) die Anwendung und Validierung des UHF-RFID-Systems zur Aufzeichnung der Trogbesuche von Mastschweinen. Die Versuche unterstützten die Auswahl und Weiterentwicklung von UHF-Transponderohrmarken und Lesegerätantennen für die Nutzung in der Tierhaltung. Es wurde erstmalig eine geeignete Testmethode für UHF-RFID-Technologie in den bearbeiteten Forschungsbereichen entwickelt und angewendet. Im Verlauf der Versuche wurde mehrmals deutlich, dass die größte Herausforderung für den Einsatz von UHF-Transpondern in Ohrmarken in der Minderung der Sensitivität gegenüber des Ohrgewebes besteht. Neben einer Überwachung der Tiergesundheit mittels UHF-RFID sind weitere mögliche Forschungsansätze die Lokalisierung von Tieren zur Messung der Bewegungsaktivität, die Kombination der Transponder mit Sensorik, beispielsweise zur Messung der Körpertemperatur, sowie die Nutzung der Technologie zur Implementierung des Internet der Dinge in Lieferketten für Lebensmittel

Comparison of different ultra-high-frequency transponder ear tags for simultaneous detection of cattle and pigs

AbstractElectronic animal identification is an important technology in modern animal husbandry providing great benefits. Low-frequency applications are state-of-the-art within the radio frequency identification of animals. Quasi-simultaneous detection of several animals and reading of the transponders over longer distances is impossible with low-frequency systems. Ultra-high-frequency (UHF) applications are suitable for this purpose. However, UHF systems have disadvantages through their susceptibility to metallic surfaces and liquids. Thus, the reflection and absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the animals' environment is often problematic. Consequently, an adjustment of the transponder ear tags regarding mechanical stability and functionality close to water (ear tissue) is necessary. In this project, targeted adjustments and a further development of UHF transponder ear tags concerning the resonance frequency were made. Three trials with cattle and two trials with pigs were performed in this study. Cattle were driven through a reader gate for ten rounds and six different types of transponder ear tags designed in-house were tested. The influence of the environment (indoor vs. outdoor), reader orientation at the gate (sideways vs. above) and output power of the readers (1.0 vs. 0.5W) were tested in two experiments. The average number of readings per round and the reading rates of the transponder ear tag types were taken as target variables. In the trials with pigs, three transponder ear tag types were compared. The animals were driven through the gate for five rounds per repetition, but neither the reader output power nor the reader orientation were varied. The pig experiments were performed indoors.The results of the cattle experiments showed that the average number of readings per round and the reading rates were significantly higher indoors compared to outdoors. The reader output power of 1.0W achieved significantly better results compared to 0.5W. The same applied to the reader orientation ‘above’ compared to ‘sideways’. It could also be shown that an improvement of the transponder and, thus, an adjustment to the animal's ear could be achieved during transponder ear tag type development. A maximum reading rate of 100% was reached with the cattle transponder types finally developed (B3-4, B4-4 and B5).In addition, an average reading rate of 100% was achieved for one pig transponder ear tag type (C2). However, these experiments have to be treated with caution due to a very low sample size

Setup, Test and Validation of a UHF RFID System for Monitoring Feeding Behaviour of Dairy Cows

Feeding behaviour can be used as an important indicator to support animal management. However, using feeding behaviour as a tool for dairy cow management an automatic sensor system is needed. Hence, the objective of this study was to setup, test and validate a ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio-frequency identification (RFID) system for measuring time dairy cows spent at the feed fence using two types of passive UHF ear tags. In a first experiment, the reading area of the system was evaluated in two antenna positions. Subsequently, the UHF RFID system was validated with video observations and compared to the measurements of chewing time of a noseband pressure sensor and of the time spent at the feed fence registered by a sensor system with real-time localisation. Differences in the reading area were detected between the two antenna positions and types of ear tag. The antenna position leading to less false positive registrations was chosen for the experiment with cows. The validation with video data showed a high average sensitivity (93.7 ± 5.6%, mean ± standard deviation), specificity (97.8 ± 1.1%), precision (93.8 ± 2.3%) and accuracy (96.9 ± 0.9%) of the UHF RFID system for measuring the time spent at the feed fence. The comparison with the noseband pressure sensor and the real-time localisation resulted in high correlations with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.95 and r = 0.93, respectively. However, substantial absolute differences between the three systems pointed out differences between direct and indirect measures of feeding behaviour in general and between the different sensors in particular. Thus, detailed considerations are necessary before interpreting automatically measured feeding data generally

Case Study on Recording Pigs’ Daily Activity Patterns with a UHF-RFID System

The main objective of this paper is the monitoring of daily activity patterns of fattening pigs at different locations in the housing environment using UHF-RFID. Four hundred fattening pigs were equipped with UHF-RFID ear tags and monitored during the fattening period for about four months. The RFID antennas were installed at the feeding troughs, playing devices and drinkers. A validation phase for each of these locations was carried out prior to the first data collection. The sensitivity (true positive rate) of the UHF-RFID system was about 80% at the feeding trough and the playing device and about 60% at the drinkers. The mean of the daily visiting time of all pigs at the trough was about 55 min. The mean visiting duration at the playing device was about 38 min and at the drinkers about 9 min. The visiting times of the pigs showed a high intra- and inter-variability. It was observed that the average visit duration at the feeding trough decreases over the course of a fattening period but increases at the playing device. A documentation of visiting times of animals is possible utilizing RFID systems, allowing a higher data density than video or direct observations

Methodology of a dynamic test bench to test ultra-high-frequency transponder ear tags in motion

AbstractThe electronic identification of sheep and goats has been obligatory in the European Union since 2010 by means of low-frequency radio-frequency identification systems. The identification of pigs and cattle is currently based on a visual ear tag, but electronic animal identification is gaining in importance. The European Union already offers the additional use of electronic identification systems for cattle in their council regulation. Besides the low-frequency radio-frequency identification, an ultra-high-frequency ear tag is a possibility for electronic animal identification. The benefits of the latter frequency band are the high range, the possibility of quasi-simultaneous reading and a high data transmission rate. First systematic laboratory tests were carried out before testing the ear tags in practice. Therefore, a dynamic test bench was built. The aim of the experiments presented in this study was to compare different ear tags under standardised conditions and select the most suitable for practical use. The influence of different parameters was tested and a standard test procedure to evaluate the quality of the transponder ear tag was developed.The experiments showed that neither the transponder holder material (polyvinyl chloride vs. extruded polystyrene) nor the reader settings examined (triggered read vs. presence sensing) had a significant influence on the average of readings of the different transponder types. The parameter ‘number of rounds’ (10 vs. 15 vs. 20) did not show a significant effect either. However, significant differences between speed (1.5ms−1,3.0ms−1), transponder orientation and the fourteen transponder types were found. The two most suitable transponder ear tags for cattle and pigs have been determined by comparison

Supplemental figures: Can we detect patterns in behavioral time series of cows using cluster analysis?

Figure S1 shows the clustering of "use of functional areas", figure S2 of "use of lying areas" and figure S3 of activity based on time-series data of two cow breeds. Figure S4 shows the clustering of "use of functional areas", figure S5 of "use of lying areas" and figure S6 of activity based on time-series data of cows of different ages. Figures S7-S19 show time-series data over four consecutive days for individual cows. In particular, the level of activity performed in the three functional areas lying, feeding and walking is depicted. </p

Development, function and test of a static test bench for UHF-RFID ear tags

Ultra-high-frequency radio frequency identification systems (UHF-RFID systems) offer multiple application possibilities for animal identification. In a present joint project, UHF transponder ear tags and readers are currently being developed especially for use with cattle and pigs. An automatic test bench was developed for measuring the detection area and signal strength of various transponders, the aim being to enable with this test bench comparison of different types of UHF-transponder ear tags in different orientations to reader antennas. Described in this paper is the constructional development and functionality of the test bench as well as trials to determine reproducibility, influence of two trial parameters and suitability of the test bench for the required purpose. The results demonstrate that the test bench fulfilled all the stipulated requirements and enabled a preliminary selection of suitable types of UHF ear tags for use in practice