Managing the mega flock (individual animal management systems)

The Sheep Cooperative Research Center (CRC) was especially established to aid Australian sheep farmers improve the efficiency and productivity of their operations. The Sheep CRC is tasked with ensuring that these farmers are equipped with the technology to meet the needs of their customers in a profitable and sustainable manner. Under the e-sheep initiative, researchers have been developing individual animal management (IAM) systems and remotely operated IAM (RIAM) systems, based around the electronic identification of animals. Although the systems use existing technology, notably RFID tags, they are being implemented into unique systems adapted for the Australian sheep industry. The systems aim to maximize performance, lower costs and increase profitability.