The Wandering Shepherd ear tag, developed by Edmonton's iFind Systems, will provide the traceability demanded by Alberta beef customers around the world since the BSE crisis, founder Neil Helfrich says. The tag automatically delivers GPS co-ordinates and other information to the satellite, which forwards it to rancher and government databases. It also allows agencies to trace the origin of disease-infected livestock within minutes, and even animals they have been in contact with. The Wandering Shepherd, the first ear tag to use satellite technology, will be paired with the world's first fourth-generation (4G) satellite network provided by Virginia-based partner TerreStar Networks. The satellite is set to launch later this year, and if all goes well the Wandering Shepherd should be up and running by early 2010, Helfrich says. "We believe our system is more effective than any tracking system out there. Other products currently available are bulky and require the battery be replaced after a period of time. While current Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ear tags depend on the livestock owner reporting the information, the Wandering Shepherd is completely automatic once it's activated, Helfrich says...Edmonton JournalHow long before this or something similar becomes a condition of your grazing permit?
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