TRANSPONDERS - THEIR USE AS IDENTIFICATIO N IN THE SLAUGHTERING CHAIN

end of a long production process. Information gathered up to this poin t on the individual animal one group of fatteners is not generally of use to the slaughtering firm although it might be necessary for qualit y documentation. On the other hand the slaughterhouse itself ascertain s parameters on slaughter yield, quality and health status which could be relayed to earlier sectors. It would be a good idea to have a join t ,,data pool'' covering all processes so that all those involved coul d use it. The necessary collection of data should, however, be done as independently of personnel as possible and with a great degree of car e. The electronically readable marks that are described are of central importance here. They make possible automatic identification and the linkage of data on individual animals from the production and fattenin g stages with data from slaughtering and meat cutting, thus creating a meeting point between areas of the records that have hitherto been se parate.