Animal husbandry – Miscellaneous
Patent
1998-01-05
1999-08-17
Price, Thomas
Animal husbandry
Miscellaneous
A01K 2900
Patent
active
059377895
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an identification device for animals, and in particular ruminant animals.
BACKGROUND ART
Domestic animals such as sheep and cattle are generally marked in some manner to allow the animal to be identified. Traditionally, cattle have been branded by a hot iron. This method is time-consuming and brands are subject to wear, damage or alteration. Ear tagging is another commonly used method. However, tags are often lost or damaged during the lifetime of the animal. They are also not security proof and may be replaced or altered by a third party.
More recently, microchips have been implanted under the animal's skin, normally behind the ear. A disadvantage of this system is that the microchip may contaminate food products obtained from the slaughtered animal. Further, implantation must normally be conducted by a suitably skilled person.
A further proposal for identifying animals has been described in Australian Patent No. 649,212. This patent describes a device having a ceramic housing with a transponder located therein. The capsule is administered by mouth and settles in the stomach. The housing is sealed by a cap. The cap is magnetic to allow post-slaughter location of the device.
One disadvantage of the ceramic capsules is that they are relatively time-consuming and costly to manufacture. First, the ceramic housing must be prepared by conventional ceramic techniques such as shaping a powder, mixing and sintering at high temperatures. The transponder is then placed inside the capsule and in a further step the capsule is sealed by the cap. Alternatively, the transponder may be glued to the ceramic capsule. In either case, it is possible for the cap or the transponder to become dislodged from the capsule. Once dislodged, they are subject to loss from the animal.
Further, in order for the capsule to remain a viable means of identifying the animal it must remain in the stomach for an extended period and preferably for the lifetime of the animal. Capsules may be lost through regurgitation or may be passed from the animal. It has been found that the ceramic capsules as described in Australian Patent No. 649,212 may be lost in this manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an animal identification device which may at least partially overcome some of the above disadvantages or provide the public with a useful choice.
The present invention relates to the unexpected and surprising discovery that capsules having a relatively high density may be prepared in an essentially one step process by encapsulating a transponder or the like in a body prepared from a plastics material and a relatively dense filler.
According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an animal identification device for oral administration and which in use resides in the animal's stomach, the device comprising a substantially solid body comprising a plastics material and a filler having a desired density, and electronic identifying means encapsulated within the body.
According to a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a process for manufacturing an animal identification device for oral administration, the process including; with the identifying means encapsulated therein.
According to a third embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of identifying at least one animal, the method comprising orally administering the device of the first embodiment into the animal's stomach and detecting the identification means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The device of the present invention may be used to identify any suitable animal. In particular, the device may be used to identify ruminants and includes cattle, sheep, goats, deer, buffalo and bison. Although the present invention is described in relation to domestic ruminants such as cattle, no limitation is intended thereby. The device of the present invention may be also be used in applications such as wildlife monitoring.
The device is
REFERENCES:
patent: 3415225 (1968-12-01), Collier
patent: 3548785 (1970-12-01), Cooper
patent: 3696787 (1972-10-01), Coooper
patent: 4262632 (1981-04-01), Hanton et al.
patent: 5482008 (1996-01-01), Stafford et al.
patent: 5697384 (1997-12-01), Miyawaki et al.
patent: 5709225 (1998-01-01), Budgifvars
patent: 5861018 (1999-01-01), Feierbach
Derwent Abstract Accession No. 84-113905/18, Class P14, ZA, A, 8303599 (Electromatic Pty Ltd) Dec. 28, 1983 abstract.
Price Thomas
SEPR Australia Pty. Ltd.
Societe Europeene des Produits Refractaires
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