Overview
Collaborating with Meat and Livestock Australia, we tackled traceability issues in our farms. Understanding the situation and applying our expertise, we used human-centred design and cutting-edge innovation methods to find technology solutions for the cattle industry.
Together, we focussed on a solution that will reduce costs and increase tag retention. Once implemented, our solution will unlock commercial value and resolve key performance barriers in global livestock traceability platforms.
The challenge
In Australia, radio-frequency identification devices (RFID) are the backbone of the cattle industry. Required by law for cattle tracing, RFIDs are found in every farm, most commonly attached via individual ear tags. However, reports show that current RFIDs are proving to be problematic, with devices getting broken or lost. Some producers report over 30% tag failure rate after just 5 years.
Every year, the consequences of tag loss include higher labour and tag replacement costs for producers. More significantly, poor tag retention leads to lost traceability of individual animals, which could cost the Australian industry billions in the case of a major disease outbreak
The Project
Partnering with Meat and Livestock Australia and Integrity Systems Company (ISC), we focussed on finding a superior cattle-tracing solution.
Together, we:
- Identified causes and costs of poor ear tag retention through engaging the industry
- Consulted International and Australian standards experts to determine the issues and implications of sub-optimal performance
- Mapped supply chains to identify possible solutions and business models.
- Engaged technology companies and developed improved solutions.
- Prototyped and conducted cattle trials
The Result
With collaboration and creative thinking, our team delivered three technology concepts to improve traceability. Working with ISC and our global network of experts, one concept has accelerated to prototyping which offers the potential of lifetime traceability.
The Future
Inspired into action, our new concept is in animal trials and is forecast to be implemented within 18 months. Together, we'll continue to develop and improve performance ready for market release.
What we delivered
- Ideation
- Prototyping
- Performance-testing of devices
- ISO-compliant testing of current devices
- Adoption planning and action
- Field trial planning and management
- Options for regulatory changes
- Business models
- IP and commercial advice
