RFID in animal husbandry - identification, record keeping and automation
RFID in animal husbandry makes it possible to keep records quickly and reproducibly: from the identification of a single individual, to the log of events, to the control of on-farm processes. Properly selected tags and readers reduce manual transcription errors, speed up work and improve data quality.
Most common RFID applications on the farm
RFID technology works well wherever fast tag reading is important without the need for perfect barcode alignment. Thanks to this, identification is possible even in difficult conditions: dust, moisture, low temperature or working with gloves.
- Identification of animals and lots (e.g., herd, food group, sector).
- Register of events: births, mating, vaccinations, treatment, weighing, and lack of.
- Control of feeds and distribution (status, releases, assignment to groups).
- Tracking of farm tools and equipment (asset tracking).
- Automated reporting and consistent data to record-keeping systems.
UHF or HF/NFC - how to choose the technology?
The choice of standard depends on the reading distance and operating environment. UHF (EPC Gen2 / ISO 18000-6C) is great when you want to read quickly and from a greater distance. HF/NFC (ISO 14443 / ISO 15693) works well in the near field, such as for identification at the bench or via a smartphone with NFC.
In practice, it often starts with pilot tests to match the tag to the material, the installation site and real working conditions.
- UHF: quick inventory, group reading, longer distances.
- HF/NFC: close reading, simple operation, compatibility with NFC devices.
- Key parameters: moisture/liquid, metal in the vicinity, method of attachment and life of the marker.
Readers and data collectors in the field
Mobility is what matters in farming. A handheld/terminal (data collector) allows you to read an ID, annotate an event and synchronize data with the system. Depending on the scenario, the reader's power, antenna type and ergonomics (trigger, gloves, IP resistance) are selected.
- RFID (handheld) data collectors - animal and field work.
- Stationary stations - reading at the gates or at the service points.
- Application integration (EPC/UID) and export to record systems.
Business and organizational benefits
The greatest value of RFID is the quality and speed of the data. Instead of manually transcribing tags, an employee takes a reading and immediately records the event. That's shorter handling time, fewer errors and better process control.
- Less confusion in identification and event history.
- Faster service and reporting.
- Better planning (e.g., nutrition, health, rotation).
- Ability to automate and expand the solution in stages.
FAQ
Most common questions about this RFID application — if you need help choosing tags or running pilot tests, write to us.
Do you have a similar project?
Describe the material (metal/liquid/textiles), working conditions and the expected read range. We’ll select RFID UHF or HF/NFC tags, propose the process and prepare a B2B quote.