Electronic identification in rabbits: two body sites of injectable transponder

Abstract

Identification and monitoring of farm animals are effective tools for traceability. Actual livestock identification systems (ear-tags, tattoos, etc.) are not completely efficient and offer some inconveniences. The use of injectable transponders might be a reliable method for individual identification, allowing the improvement of the data recording and the farm management. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the applicability of injectable transponder in live rabbits. A total of 40 fattening rabbits of 55 days old were injected with 23 mm passive FDX-B transponders (Datamars, Switzerland), preloaded into a needle in a sterilised packaged and applied by using a transponder injector (Planet ID, Germany). Two body locations for transponder’s injection were studied: laterally to the neck (n=20) and armpit (n=20). Readings of the transponders were performed using portable ISO transceiver, before injection, after injection, the day after, after one week, after one month, before the slaughtering process. Rabbits were weighted at the injection, one week and one month after injection, and at slaughtering; a control group of not treated animals were weight to compare the effect of manipulation. Growth performance were studied by analysis of variance, using of GLM procedure. A χ2 test was used to analyse difference in migration rate. Readability of transponders in the fatteners until slaughterhouse was 100%. Recovery of transponder during the slaughtering process was easy with 100% of transponders recovered. Body site of injection didn’t affect the migration rate, nevertheless it was low. In one animal, the transponder was recovered into the scapular muscle. No harmful effects of the transponder injection on the animals were observed. Weight difference of animals was not significant for the two body site of injection, compare to the control group. Preliminary results showed that transponders can be used as a method for traceability and monitoring of live rabbits, allowing the improvement of the management of a farm.