National system developed to keep track of all animals
The Livestock Department is working with the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre to set up a national animal identification system to efficiently manage identification of animals across the country.
Vivat Chavananikul, associate professor at the Animal Husbandry Department, Chulalongkorn University, and part of the working committee on the project, said that the National Animal ID system would be developed to support international standards using the radio frequency identification system (RFID). RFID for animals means that the information transmitted by a transponder can be read by a receiver. Usually the transmission contains data bits - defining the identification code and the number of bits ensures correct reception of identification details. The standard will specify the structure of the identification code. Vivat said the National Animal ID system would comprise two main types of information, standard information and animal-health information. Standard information has a 128-bit structure. Animal health information includes feeding records, category, pedigree, date of birth, owner registration number, treatment record, vaccine programme and animal husbandry details. In the plan, the system would be split into two types of ID systems, identification for economic and aquatic animals, and identification for domestic pets and wildlife. He said the identification for economic and aquatic animals comprised a 15-digit code that had the first three digits reserved as a country code. Thailand's code is 764. The next second two digits would record the animal type. Then would follow a two-digit province code, a two-digit year code, and a six-digit number specific to the animal. The identification for domestic pets and wildlife would use a similar 15-digit number, with the first three digits being the country code and the next two digits the animal type. Next would come the three-digit RFID manufacturer code followed by a seven-digit animal ID. The draft of the National Animal ID system is complete. Vivat said it's now in the process of being studied and after approval the draft will be officially announced in terms of regulations from the relevant organisations who oversee the various animals, including the Livestock Department, the Fisheries Department, and the Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. Asina Pornwasin The Nation
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