Citation
(1999), "Cattle tracing computer", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 99 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.1999.01799aab.008
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited
Cattle tracing computer
Cattle tracing computer
A new British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) was introduced at the end of September 1998. It has been set up to track every calf, cow and bull registered in Britain from birth to death. This new system will make it easier to trace cattle if there is a disease outbreak and will give greater assurance to those buying cattle about an animal's history. The BCMS will use specially designed high-tech scanning equipment to process farmers' applications and reports of cattle movements. The system uses a sophisticated bar code and optical character recognition system that can decipher hand written letters and numbers. High speed printers are expected to produce more than three million new cheque book style cattle passports every year. Passport applications must be accurately completed and sent to the BCMS within 15 days of tagging. Movements of cattle must be registered within 15 days and deaths must be reported within seven days.