An official website of the United States government.

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Electronic Identification and Molecular Markers for Improving the Traceability of Livestock and Meat

Objective

<B>1.1. </B>Primary objective: the development of a reliable system for the traceability of livestock and meat based on the joint use of electronic identification (EID) and molecular markers (DNA). The EID should provide a real time tagging and tracing-back methodology for on farm use and administrative purposes until slaughtering; and, the DNA profile should be the method to audit the tracing-back of the identity of animals, carcasses and meat cuts in the whole meat industry.
<B>1.2.</B> Further objective: the implementation and evaluation of the double system (EID+DNA) for the whole tracing and quality monitoring of beef ('red' and 'pink' meat) and pork ('white pig' fresh meat and 'black pig' fresh and cured ham) from farm to consumer under EU conditions, including the Data Base management and a cost-benefit analysis.

More information

European Commission FAIR

Abstract

Traceability is a sensitive point for consumers. Despite this, methods for tracing meat are poorly developed. With this aim, a double system based on electronic identification (EID) and DNA profiling for tracing animals and meat, according to EC regulations, should be developed. Improving knowledge of EID and overcoming limiting factors in the use of bolus (ruminants) and injectable (pig) transponders, must be attempted. The project must develop and test a competitive new reader, and study the automatic recovery of transponders in the abattoir and data transfer (animal to meat). For DNA profiling, the project must do a selection of markers and a comparison of sampling methods. Finally the project must evaluate the implementation of the double system for the whole tracing and quality monitoring of beef and pork meats, including the management of a data base and a cost-benefit analysis. The project makes up a loose cluster with two other FAIR5th projects on food traceability and integrates the previous and current research on the EID of livestock conducted in the EU, and takes into account the current results of the IDEA project.

Investigators
Caja, Gerardo
Institution
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
Start date
2001
End date
2003
Funding Source
Project number
2000-02229
Commodities