Fair5th

EID+DNA Tracing

Shearwell Data was involved in a three year European Commission Research Project to develop a double system based on electronic identification (EID) and DNA profiling for tracing animals and meat.

The aim of the project was to improve traceability of livestock and meat in practical EU conditions. This research and development project involved ten partners from five countries and is divided into two phases (research and implementation) and structured in three parts (electronic identification, DNA fingerprinting and validation of the system).

Other partners in this project included the University of Barcelona, the Joint Research Centre at the European Commission, German, French, Italian and Spanish Research Institutes and the Irish genetic testing company Identigen.

Shearwell Data ran all of the UK trials. The aims of the project were to DNA sample and insert boluses in 1,000 sheep and 3,000 cattle and DNA sampling and inserting transponders in 1,000 pigs. However concerns in the abattoir over food safety with injectables in pig prevented the quantity of pigs being recorded. Only 50 were injected and recorded through the system. Delays in the arrival of retrieval and reading equipment in the abattoir meant that not all cattle were recorded from birth through to carcase.

Equipment used

• Ruminal Bolus - sheep and cattle


• Implants - pigs


• Handheld readers


• Static readers


• FarmWorks by SDL


• Psion Stock Recorders


• Static reader in the abattoir


• High frequency reader in the abattoir


• High frequency labels in the abattoir


• DNA sample labels


• IPAQ handheld to read HF label and write to a label on the DNA sample