TETRAD: an on-line telematic surveillance system for animal transports

A new concept for on-line surveillance of animal transports is presented, c omprising telemetry and wireless data communication. The concept has two ma jor objectives: (1) to improve animal disease prevention and control and (2 ) to enable monitoring of animal welfare during transport. The system allow s on-line collection on the transport lorry of data with respect to animal identification, body temperature and geographical position. Concept and pro totype system are described. Performance tests on data collection and trans mission showed the technical feasibility of the prototype system, both unde r laboratory and semi-practical conditions. Necessary improvements and futu re use of the system are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.