Investigation of the potential use of e-tracking and tracing of poultry using linear and 2D barcodes

Contemporary Precision Livestock Technology in poultry production is very limited and does not meet European standards for traceability and Best Available Technology (BAT), as laid down in EN ISO 2205:2007 standards (2007) and the European Directive 2008/1/EC (2008). A worldwide occurrence of Avian Influenza additionally calls for a fraud-proof tagging device and source verification system for poultry and poultry products in order to complete partially existing documentary trails.During a preliminary laboratory trial, a procedure for the application of miniature linear and two-dimensional Data Matrix (DM) barcodes onto poultry beaks and legs through inkjet printing was set up and assessed. Results regarding the proportion of readability (p%), the standard error in readability (SE) and general statistics on the reading time were calculated. Tests for independence based on Chi-square and Pearson's were performed on the categorical data, to estimate the differences between proportions of readability of reading groups. The resulting data was used to define the optimal position of barcodes as well as the optimal reading mode of the barcode scanner to be used for further trials. As this experiment provided an estimate of readability of barcodes imprinted on chicken beaks and legs, it is intended to serve as a basis for sample size calculation for an ongoing live trial.