І. Introduction and legislation

 Community rules for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals are laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004. According to the cited regulation, as of 31.12.2010, electronic identification becomes mandatory for all small ruminants. Only Member States with or less than 600 000 sheep and with or less than 160 000 goats that are not subject to intra-Community trade electronic identification is optional. Electronic identification for animals is based on the use of radio frequency identification – a method that works at low frequencies and at very short distances. The electronic identifier is called a transponder and is a passive, read-only device that does not contain an internal power supply. The identification code can only be read when the transponder is activated by the signal transmitted by a reader. Small ruminants are identified by two means of identification – the first means is a simple eartag, the second means is an electronic eartag.

ІІ. Description of identifiers

 Small ruminants are identified by two means of identification – a simple eartag and an electronic eartag. The set of ear tags for DPJ consists of one ordinary ear tag and one electronic one and is in a separate transparent package, as the regular ear tag is yellow in color and the electronic one is orange. The transponder is located in the female part of the orange brand:

Figure 58 Ear tags

Inscription
The inscription on the regular and electronic eartag is the same and matches the number (identification code) of the chip. Only the inscription of the code of Bulgaria is written with letter symbols according to ISO 1366, and in the chip the code is written with numbers – 100 (Reg. 21/2004, Appendix A, point 2):

Figure 59 Earmark inscription

The inscription of the ordinary eartag is located in three lines:

– first line: BG (abbreviation for the country)

– second line: the first 8 digits of the individual number of the animal

– third line: the last four digits of the individual animal number, increased in size.

The inscription on the female part of the electronic (orange) ear tag is radial, on the outer ring of the round part.

Figure 60 Inscription on ordinary ear tag

Visible inscription (yellow and orange) and chip code (blue figure) carry the same information!

•  The electronic identifiers correspond to the following technical characteristics:
  a) passive reading transponders (electronic devices) using HDX or FDX-B technology, in accordance with ISO standards 11784 and 11785,

b) electronic identifiers must be readable by readers complying with ISO standard 11785 and reading HDX- or FDX-B transponders (electronic devices),

c) the transponder code structure provides the following information in the specified order:

• three-digit country code “100” in accordance with ISO standard 3166;
• a 12-digit individual identification code to identify an individual animal;

d) reading distances:

• at least 12 cm with a mobile reader;
• at least 50 cm with a stationary reader.

ІІІ. Placement of identifiers and preparation of primary documents

•  Placing the marks.

The sets of identifiers correspond exactly to the applicators (marking pliers) used in our country for placing ear tags, so that the placement is possible without the need for an additional device for the available pliers. When placing the identifiers, the instructions are used – for placing in the middle third of the ear and keeping the sterility of the ear tag during storage and placement:

Note: The electronic ear tag (orange) is placed on the left ear.

Figure 61 Properly placed identifiers

Figure 62 Incorrectly placed identifiers

Figure 63 Incorrectly placed identifiers

• Entry in a declaration for a newly marked animal

In the declaration for newly marked animals Fig. ZHOZH-96, column 1, the identifier is written with a 15-digit number of the electronic transponder (chip) according to the example of the present instructions from ІІ. first point and the following example:

Figure 64 Manner of writing the number of the identifier in the declaration for a newly marked animal

IV. Death of an animal

When slaughtering in meat enterprises, the official veterinarian performing the control in the enterprise orders the removal of the marks from the carcasses of the slaughtered animals, reflects the slaughter in the IP and transmits the identifiers to the RFSD with an inventory of the marks and the date of slaughter. When slaughtering the DPJ for own consumption, the identifiers are removed from the ears of the slaughtered animal. The owner shall notify the registered veterinarian of the reduction in the number of animals. The attending veterinarian, depending on the age of the animal takes a brain sample and the identifiers removed from the slaughtered animal. The date of death shall be entered in the register of the livestock farm (model ZHOZH-69). When an animal dies, the identifiers are not removed from the ears. The owner immediately notify the registered veterinarian of the death. The registered veterinarian, depending on the age of the DPJ, takes or not a brain sample for TSE, registers death and movement to the slaughterhouse in the IS through the menu / Events with animals – Movements – Movements of dead animals /. The carcass of the animal is transferred to the slaughterhouse. The owner reflects the date of death in the register of the livestock farm (model ZHOZH-69). In the event of the death of an animal and burial on the spot, the identifiers are removed from the carcass. The owner notifies the registered veterinarian of the death. The registered veterinarian, depending on the age of the BPH, takes or does not take a brain sample for TSE, registers the death in the IP and receives the downloaded identifiers from the owner of the farm. The latter reflects the date of death in the register of the livestock farm (model ZHOZH-69).