Comparison of the different ruminant identification systems and their suitability for the Maltese sector

Abstract

In light of recent food safety, animal disease crisis and international trade concerns associated with food or other animal products, traceability has become an important issue. This project reviews the present Maltese ruminant traceability system together with other identification systems within the European Union. This is done to determine which is the most reliable to be used on the Maltese Islands if the European Union enforces its studies of introducing the electronic identification in all its Member States. The different identification systems reviewed were: 1. The Visual Ear Tag 2. The Rumen Bolus 3. The Injectable Transponder / Microchip 4. The Electronic Ear Tag A SWOT analysis was carried out on each different type to identify the most feasable technique to be used in identifying ruminant animals on the Maltese Islands. Some of the large varieties of different means of identification systems have the capacity to deliver additional advantages, such as having better biosecurity measures on farms and a more precise breeding history of any particular animal. This helped to identify a system which might work best on the Maltese Islands and also to determine from other studies if there can be any improvements on any of the application methods, to safeguard more the health and welfare of the animals. The conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that the most reliable means of identification system is the rumen bolus, while the most un-reliable ones are the injectable transponder and the electronic ear tag. The best methods to be applied on the Maltese Islands would be a combination of the rumen bolus and the visual ear tag. This combination have the correct contribution of being tamper proof and visual for the day-to-day management routines.