Wednesday, 10 September 2008

Why the second stomach?

At the end of John Waibochi's session he mentioned a tagging and tracking system for beef cattle that is now being implemented in Kenya to provide the assurances about health status that are required for export sales. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags hold digital information in a microchip and this communicates with a 'reader' to provide all sorts of information about the animal's origin, disease history and health status.

He told us the device is placed in the cow's second stomach. Ok! We try to visualise ..... then Onesmo bravely asked what the rest of the non-vets are wondering: why the second stomach? how on earth do you get it there? and how do you make sure it doesn't come back out? David admitted that he doesn't know why the second stomach but hoped there was a vet in the audience that could help! Brian Perry told us that the second stomach is used to ensure that it's not expelled! And Brian also told us you get it there by 'shooting' it in through the mouth with a special 'applicator'. A quick google search and hey presto - we think we have a pic of the device! Brian, is this it?

No comments: