Electronic identification of cattle with injectable transponders

Electronic identification with injectable transponders is a promising way to improve the present system of animal tagging. The application inside the body of animals reduces the risk of loss, eventually manipulations and fraud to a minimum. On the other hand the injected transponder has to fulfil important requirements for its use in practice. Main aspects are the biological compatibility, feasibility of injection, technical performance under static and dynamic conditions and finally the procedure of recovery in commercial slaughterlines to avoid any risk for the human food chain. The article gives a review about research activities of the last years, which were carried out with different types of transponders, using the injection spot scutulum in cattle. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.