Abstract: Approaches for determining a location of an animal based on RSSI. An embodiment includes a method, comprising: receiving a first reading of an electronic animal identification tag attached to an animal from a first electronic tag reader; calculating a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the first reading; and determining a location of the animal based on the RSSI. Another embodiment includes a method, comprising: receiving a first reading of a first electronic animal identification tag attached to a first animal; calculating a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the first reading; receiving a second reading of a second 10 electronic animal identification tag attached to a second animal; calculating an RSSI for the second reading; and determining the location of the first animal based on the RSSI of the first reading and the RSSI of the second reading.

Abstract: A reader for an electronic identification tag, the reader comprising: a transmitter antenna for exciting a passive electronic identification tag in proximity, the transmitter antenna comprising one or more single windings; and a receiver antenna for coupling a signal from the electronic identification tag to other parts 5 of a receiver module, the antenna comprising twin windings wound in an anti-phase manner. A method for identifying a sequence of unique identifiers, each unique identifier being associated with an animal, the method comprising: obtaining a stream of reads from animal identification tags, each animal identification tag being attached to a corresponding animal, each read comprising 10 one of a plurality of unique identifiers; identifying one or more distributions based on the number of reads for each of the plurality of unique identifiers in the stream; and determining a sequence of unique identifiers based on the distributions.

Abstract: A hand-held device (100) for applying a tag (116, 118) to animals and extracting animal tissue, comprising: a first handle (106); a second handle (108); a first jaw portion (101) configured to engage a first portion (116) of an animal tag and an animal tissue sampler (174) for extracting animal tissue; and a second jaw portion (103) configured to engage a second portion (118) of the animal tag and a container (1181) for storing animal tissue; wherein displacing the first handle (106) in a closing direction to an engaging position causes the first portion (116) of the animal tag to engage the second portion (118) of the animal tag; and wherein displacing the first handle (106) in the closing direction to a disposing position causes the animal tissue sampler (174) to be disposed within the container (1181).

Abstract: A system for tracing a Group of Members (GoM) of an animal population throughout a process including moving the GoM between a plurality of Physically Separate Locations (PSLs), the system comprising a processing circuitry configured to: obtain a plurality of sets of identifiers of the GoM, each obtained by readings of Identification Devices (IDs), wherein (a) each ID of the IDs is attached to, and uniquely identifies, a respective member of the GoM, (b) the identifiers in each of the sets are read (i) at a respective given PSL of the PSLs, (ii) by a respective given ID reader of a plurality of ID readers; (c) one or more partial sets of the sets do not include one or more respective missing identifiers of at least one member of the GoM; and add the missing identifiers to the respective partial sets along with a confidence score.

Abstract: Approaches for synchronising electronic animal identification tag readers for reading clectronic animal identification tags attached to animals. Embodiments include using a pulse from a GNSS receiver, adjusting for an error between a reference cadence signal and a local cadence signal, and using a synchronisation signal.

Abstract: A reader comprising: a panel; two antennae each associated with a respective race to transmit and/or receive information to/from an electronic animal tag in that respective race; and an electromagnetic shield to impede an antenna from transmitting and/or receiving information to/from an electronic animal tag not located in the respective race of that antenna; a system for reading electronic animal tags comprising: a plurality of readers each located at or near a wall of a respective plurality of races, wherein each reader is at least partially shielded by an electromagnetic shield; each reader being longitudinally offset with respect to at least one other reader in the plurality of readers; and methods of constructing and using a reader.

Abstract: Approaches for synchronising electronic animal identification tag readers for reading electronic animal identification tags attached to animals Embodiments include using a pulse from a GNSS receiver, adjusting for an error between a reference cadence signal and a local cadence signal, and using a synchronisation signal.

Abstract: Improvements in devices for animals, such as animal tag applicators, animal tissue sample extractors, and animal puncture devices, comprising: a first body portion comprising: a first jaw portion configured to engage a first portion of an animal tag; a first handle portion; and a first central portion between the first jaw portion and the first handle portion; a second body portion comprising: a second jaw portion configured to engage a second portion of an animal tag; a second handle portion; and a second central portion between the second jaw portion and the second handle portion; and a clamp bush configured to retain the first central portion and the second central portion together; wherein an outer face of the first central portion comprises a border around an outer edge of the outer face of the first central portion and the outer face of the second central portion comprises a border around an outer edge of the outer face of the first central portion.

Abstract: A reader comprising: a panel; two antennae each associated with a respective race to transmit and/or receive information to/from an electronic animal tag in that respective race; and an electromagnetic shield to impede an antenna from transmitting and/or receiving information to/from an electronic animal tag not located in the respective race of that antenna; a system for reading electronic animal tags comprising: a plurality of readers each located at or near a wall of a respective plurality of races, wherein each reader is at least partially shielded by an electromagnetic shield; each reader being longitudinally offset with respect to at least one other reader in the plurality of readers; and methods of constructing and using a reader.

Abstract: Approaches for synchronising electronic animal identification tag readers for reading electronic animal identification tags attached to animals Embodiments include using a pulse from a GNSS receiver, adjusting for an error between a reference cadence signal and a local cadence signal, and using a synchronisation signal.

Abstract: Approaches for determining a location of an animal based on RSSI. An embodiment includes a method, comprising: receiving a first reading of an electronic animal identification tag attached to an animal from a first electronic tag reader; calculating a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the first reading; and determining a location of the animal based on the RSSI. Another embodiment includes a method, comprising: receiving a first reading of a first electronic animal identification tag attached to a first animal; calculating a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the first reading; receiving a second reading of a second 10 electronic animal identification tag attached to a second animal; calculating an RSSI for the second reading; and determining the location of the first animal based on the RSSI of the first reading and the RSSI of the second reading.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus includes a structure configured to mount within a stock race to permit animals to pass therethrough. One or more antenna coils are attached to or within the structure and provide a magnetic field laterally across the structure. The coils may be arranged in a Helmholtz configuration to provide a substantially uniform field in a read zone. The structure may have an open top and the side walls of the structure may be slanted forwards.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus includes a structure configured to mount within a stock race to permit animals to pass therethrough. One or more antenna coils are attached to or within the structure and provide a magnetic field laterally across the structure. The coils may be arranged in a Helmholtz configuration to provide a substantially uniform field in a read zone. The structure may have an open top and the side walls of the structure may be slanted forwards.

Abstract: An animal identification system, including: a race including a pair of opposed walls between which, in use, animals pass, and a floor including one or more steps or sloping sections defining a height change; one or more readers configured to read electronic animal identification devices borne by animals passing along the race; wherein, at least one of the one or more readers is positioned beneath, on top of or within the floor at or near the height change such that, in use, movement of the animals caused by the height change tends to bring the animals' identification devices into closer proximity to that reader.