An electronic detection system for use in identifying livestock

Identification of livestock during their growth cycle has become an important consideration in the economics of livestock production. Knowledge of each animal's food intake, weight, environment, and health history can be very helpful in breeding and food production planning. Electronic identification methods are in use to accomplish these needs. The author considers those methods which utilize a passive transducer on the animal so that a power supply is not required. The chosen method which uses coupling induced between orthogonal coils via a third tuned circuit is developed by classical methods. An orthogonal coil system was constructed and its parameters were used to develop a computer simulation model. The system response was tested and compared to the computer predictions. The predictions were found to be within l0 percent of the measured response. The orthogonal-coil approach was found to be a valid method of livestock identification.