Biological Asset Management Solution Based on ZigBee Active RFID Tag Technology

I. Solution Background

Animal ear tags play a crucial role in modern livestock farm management and are an essential tool for achieving precision management. Typically containing a unique identification number, they are affixed by tagging the ears of livestock. Their importance lies in providing a unique identity for each animal, facilitating individual animal management, and serving as a vital tool for implementing precision management practices.

II. Industry Pain Points

The demand for refined management of biological assets in the breeding industry is increasing. Electronic tags, represented by RFID, are gradually being trialed for biological asset management. However, passive RFID faces significant challenges in practical use. In contrast, active electronic tags serve as an effective complement, particularly for animal ear tags.

2.1 Difficulty in Inventorying Large Numbers of Live Animals

Conventional ear tags lack electronic reading functionality, making digital management applications impossible. Traditional livestock farmers find inventorying penned animals inefficient and challenging.

2.2 Deficiencies in Passive RFID Applications

Short read range, difficulty in troubleshooting loss or damage, lack of audible/visual search and location functions, and limited application expansion are real-world challenges identified in recent years for passive RFID tags in practical scenarios.

2.3 Harsh Tag Usage Environment

The usage environment for electronic tags in breeding facilities is extremely harsh, with high-frequency water washing and high risk of damage from biting or crushing. This demands extremely high product protection ratings and environmental safety requirements.

2.4 High Difficulty in Tag Application

Applying tags to live animals requires professional ear tagging tools and proper tag installation. The application process must consider the characteristics of different animal species.

2.5 High Requirements for Protection and Hygiene

Electronic tags worn on animals must not be too heavy, nor too small for easy visual identification. The application process must minimize physical harm to the animal.

III. ZigBee Active Electronic Tags – Providing a Low-Cost Solution for Biological Asset Management in the Breeding Industry

West-HN Technology's Biological Asset Management Solution for Pig Farms (and similar penned livestock farms) effectively addresses current needs for inventorying, locating, identifying, and tracking biological assets throughout the industry chain, as well as supporting adoption models, despite the challenges of large numbers and fast movement. This is achieved by deploying a ZigBee-based active electronic tag positioning and tracking system within indoor pens. The specific solution functionalities are as follows:

3.1 Rapid Control of In-Pen Biological Counts

• Real-time viewing of pig counts in pens
• Quick locking of pen area locations
• Monitoring of entry/exit data changes
• Rapid pig location for farm staff

^{System Topology Diagram for Penned Livestock Asset Management Solution Based on ZigBee Electronic Tags}

3.2 Rapid Deployment of Biological Asset Field Monitoring System

• Quick access with power and network availability
• Wall-mounted where possible, frame-mounted where not
• Fixed base stations, tags assigned to assets
• Area zoning, three-point positioning

^{Pig Farm ZigBee Electronic Tag Deployment Diagram 1 (Fixed Base Station + DTU Solution)}

3.3 Unlimited Data Application from Hardware of Biological Asset Tags

• Electronic tags with low frequency and low power consumption
• Continuously and actively transmit data to base stations
• Data includes count, location, in-pen status
• Dual-frequency excitation for more accurate positioning

^{Pig Farm ZigBee Electronic Tag Deployment Diagram 2 (Qianwu Qianxun Mobile 4G Card Reader Base Station Solution)}

IV. Solution Value

The widespread application of active electronic tags in biological assets can bring efficiency improvements through digital production to the breeding industry, drive transformation in animal adoption models, and provide beneficial intelligent system enhancements for production enterprises in precision livestock farming scenarios.

4.1 No More Worries About Animal Inventory

For biological assets wearing electronic tags, management personnel no longer need to enter foul-smelling pens to count animals. Real-time in-pen counts are clearly visible on monitoring devices, along with dynamic real-time locations.

4.2 Larger Read Range of Up to 100 Meters

When precise locking or manual periodic inventory is required, a mobile reading gun can be used for long-distance scanning, providing great convenience for improving work efficiency.

4.3 No More Difficulty in Manual Animal Identification

Animals wearing electronic tags still retain visually identifiable IDs and nameplates, satisfying both electronic identification and daily visual recognition needs, allowing breeders to seamlessly switch between the two identification modes.

4.4 Adoption Tracking Becomes Reality

The currently popular "Adopt a Cow/Sheep/Pig" model, with the support of electronic tags, can truly realize customer-customized adoption, full-process supervision of feeding, and regular care, enabling the implementation of this modern, trendy business model.

4.5 Expansion of Electronic Tag Functionality

All digital application functions of the active electronic tag system used on asset tags can also be adapted for use on biological assets. The rich data collected by electronic tags provides a perfect digital information collection carrier for precision livestock farming and production.

In summary, while active electronic ear tags may seem simple, their uses in the livestock breeding industry are extensive and important. They are not only identifiers for biological individuals but also crucial tools for achieving scientific breeding management, ensuring food safety, optimizing breeding strategies, and promoting industry development. With the continuous development of the pig farming industry and technological advancement, the functions and applications of ZigBee active electronic tags will continue to expand and improve, providing stronger support for the sustainable development of the livestock breeding industry.

V. West-HN Product Links

5.1 Tag: Long-Range Cattle/Sheep/Pig Electronic Ear Tag WE-T39

5.2 Positioning & Inventory Server: Warehouse Management Cloud Positioning Gateway WE-LS02

5.3 Fixed Card Reader: Wireless Induction Alarm Device WE-RN02

5.4 Mobile Card Reader: Android 4G All-Network Industrial Inventory Machine WE-HS230