Analisi retrospettiva di medio periodo sull’identificazione animale a tecnologia RFID nelle filiere ovine e caprine in Sardegna e considerazioni sull’impatto economico del suo utilizzo su larga scala

Reliability, efficacy and the efficiency of EID of animals according to RFID technology were assessed across different animal production filiere. Accident occurrence, un-detectability of electronic code, as well as technical aspects due to different types of devices deployed were considered before setting up a cost/benefit analysis of the system based on RFID technology for traceability purposes. A coded manual of operations for the electronic identification of animals in the practice on a large scale according different electronic devices (injectable transponders or ceramic boluses) was implemented. An experimental Help Desk Service (HDS) was created as a practical support concerning animal welfare, veterinary aspects and losses/breakages of electronic identifiers. An evolution of the system to check performance of RFID technology in farms was due to the detection of bolus/transponders presence in animals body by digitalized X-ray analysis, thus allowing a sound check for operators and for reliability assessment. A very weak point was identified in a consistent loss (36.9%) of miniboluses (20 g) in goats, after 2 years from the first electronic identification. The SWOT analysis showed that the adoption of RFID technology for animal identification is a good tool for traceability of animals and improving farm management and a concrete help to solve on field problems during hard fieldwork operations.