RFID Ear Tag Readers for Cattle, Sheep and Livestock EID

The problem with reading cattle and sheep ear tags by eye

Printed visual ear-tag numbers get dirty, faded or torn, and reading one means getting close to the animal. Writing numbers down at the chute (crush) or the race and typing them in later doubles the work and adds errors. With a mob of sheep moving through a race, reading every tag by eye is rarely practical at all.

Electronic identification (EID) fixes the first step: a correct ID number goes straight into a record. Treatments, weights, movements and ownership can then be traced back to the right animal.

The need is the same on cattle and sheep farms, in feedlots and sale yards, at weighing points, and in veterinary practices and research facilities. It is also the same for the vendors who serve them: feeder, weigh-scale, drafting and herd-software suppliers who need an EID reader that fits into their own system.

How 134.2 kHz EID reading works

Livestock EID tags follow two standards. ISO 11784 defines the structure of the ID number, and ISO 11785 defines how the tag and reader communicate. Our 134.2kHz FDX-B RFID readers read:

• FDX-B EID ear tags and 2–12 mm glass-tube microchips (ISO 11784/11785, 134.2 kHz)
• EMID tags (125 kHz)

An ear tag has a larger coil than a 2–12 mm glass-tube microchip and reads further, which is why the range figures below are given for both. The readers read the tag’s ID number only; they do not write tags. HDX and FDX-A tags are not in their specification, and some cattle and sheep EID programs use HDX, so confirm your tag type first. FDX-B vs HDX animal tags explains the difference.

An ISO 11784 ID is usually written as a 15-digit number: a 3-digit code, which is either an ISO 3166 numeric country code or a manufacturer code in the 900–998 range, followed by a 12-digit national identification number. How the 15-digit animal ID is built walks through an example.

Choosing the right EID reader

Start with where the animal is when you read it, then decide how the number has to reach your software.

The three EID handhelds run on a 3.7 V lithium battery and show the ID on an OLED screen. The paddle-shaped A540-M reads furthest and stores the most records. The A530-U is the simplest, with USB only. The two desktop readers do the same job in different housings: the A110-U is a 104 × 68 × 10 mm slim pad, and the A140-U is a 105 × 65 × 15 mm compact pad.

The readers can be combined: for example, an A660-M EID panel reader at the race, feeder or weigh scale for automatic reads, plus a handheld for checking individual cattle or sheep in the pen.

Integration notes

EID handhelds. Read an animal and the ID appears on the screen. The A520-M sends it live over USB, 2.4G or Bluetooth, or stores it for a batch upload later. Memory is 128 records on the A520-M and A530-U and 6,000 on the A540-M, which also offers key-trigger, read-once and continuous read modes. Live Bluetooth upload suits a tablet or laptop at the chute or scale; batch upload suits paddocks and pastures with no device nearby. No SDK is documented for the handhelds. Tell us which app or program receives the data, and we confirm the upload format in your quotation.

Desktop and phone readers. The A110-U, A140-U and A220-C need no driver or app. They type the tag number wherever the cursor is: a spreadsheet, a web form, herd-management software or a clinic system. The A220-C needs a phone with USB OTG and outputs a 10-digit decimal number by default. If your software needs the full 15-digit ISO number, ask about a custom output format and we confirm it in your quotation. The output format of the A110-U and A140-U is not published, so we confirm it against your software in the same way. See USB-C phone readers, keyboard-emulation readers and can a phone read a pet microchip?

EID panel reader. The A660-M measures 260 × 260 × 35 mm and weighs about 1.5 kg. It has a resin-potted PVC housing and an operating temperature of -20 °C to +55 °C. Its RS232 or RS485 output goes to a feeder or weigh-scale controller, a PLC or a PC; RS485 handles the longer cable runs found in sheds, feedlots and sheep yards. Mount it on a non-metallic surface facing the point where the ear tag passes, and switch it on with no tag in front of the antenna so it can tune itself. Wiegand 26/34 is also listed in the specification, so confirm the wiring when you order. Low-frequency fields react to nearby metal and electrical noise, so follow the installation notes supplied with the reader. The interface guide compares serial and Wiegand links.

Private label for distributors. The handhelds’ display language is English by default and can be customized, which suits distributors selling EID readers in other markets. Logo, packaging and output options are covered under private-label RFID readers.

What to send us for a quote

Please include:

1. Tag type, and a sample if possible: FDX-B or EMID, ear-tag size or microchip length.
2. Species (cattle, sheep or other), and where you read: chute, race, feeder, weigh scale or desk.
3. How the ID must reach your system: the app or software, the interface, and the number format (15-digit ISO or another).
4. Handheld, fixed or desktop, and the quantity of each.
5. Private-label needs: display language, logo, packaging.
6. Destination country.

Price, MOQ and lead time are confirmed in your quotation. To check range with your own tags first, see samples, or contact us with your setup.