Kerala Animal Husbandry Department has launched a project in the state to attach microchips on cattle.
A small device in the form of a microchip will help the Animal Husbandry Department to get details about the cattle. The RFID (Radio Frequency Identification chip) will help identify each cattle (cow, buffalo and goat) similar to that of Aadhaar. Additional information like owner, vaccines, insurance, can be added in the chip.
The chip would be beneficial during disaster management and to check scams. It can play an important role in trait detection, like high milk yield or heat tolerance and will also help in conservation of indigenous breeds of cattle.
The project, undertaken as part of Animal Identification Traceability Project, will enable the department to collect details like deseases and quality of milk. The e-Health Management System will help vetenary doctors in getting a general assessment.
The RFID tags are fixed under the skin of the left ear of the animal using a sterile disposable syringe.
A MoU was signed by Kaushik, Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry, and Saji Gopinath, Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology, in the presence of minister J Chinchu Rani.
The pilot project will be implemented for 75,000 cattle in Pathanamthitta district at a cost fo Rs 7.28 crore.