>However, government control may even force a strictly biometric ID
>which does not require any implant at all and typically could require a
>retinal "fingerprint."
> Rick,
> I've seen - sometime in the past 5 years or so - some info on doing
muzzle-printing of cattle; perhaps one or more of the breed associations was
or was > considering using it as a permanent form of ID for registered
animals - evidently, muzzle prints are as specific as are fingerprints used
for positive
> ID of humans.
Muzzle imprint could be better if you get a legible print, which can be
difficult. I watched the Opti-Brand system work while out a Colorado State
a couple years ago, and it is fast, permanent, accurate, non invasive, and
can't cheat. However since it works on thermal imaging, at least the one
demonstrated did, wouldn't work for dead animals, I suppose one advantage
might be you could read two eyes and if a cow lost a eye, it be like having
a second "tag".
Gene Schriefer
Shepherd
Dodgeville, Wisconsin USA
Commercial Texel-x and Charollais-x Sheep
