WO2017066813A2

WO2017066813A2 - A multi coloured animal ear tag

Info

Publication number: WO2017066813A2
Application number: PCT/ZA2016/050052
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marten DALING
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-10-13
Filing date: 2016-12-10
Publication date: 2017-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2018-04-13
Also published as: WO2017066813A4; WO2017066813A3

Abstract

A multi coloured animal ear tag is invented to perform better identification of livestock, wild game and other sea and land animals. Due to certain conditions livestock are kept on difficult terrain. Due to inaccessibility to farming livestock and wild game, it can be a beneficial usage to incorporate A multi coloured animal ear tag to identify livestock from a distance, using the different colours on the ear tag to process the identification of the particular animal, or more animals as a combination of coloured ear tags. Each colour on the ear tag can represent specific information such as gender, year, bloodline, region, and various numbers etc.

Description

A multi coloured animal ear tag

DESCRIPTION

An animal ear tag that is multi coloured TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention pertains to an animal ear tag that is multi coloured'

BACKGROUND ART

Initially in ancient times domestic livestock we're marked with fire-heated marks. Symbols we're used to distinguish between ownership of animals that may mix with other owned livestock or to distinguish between the year, gender, species etc of an animal.

Many other methods of identification to ease herding and tending to animals exist such as inner lip or ear tattoos, earmarking, ear tagging etc.

Animal ear tags have been used for many decades and are currently a very popular or even the norm to animal identification. An ear tag is a plastic or metal object used for identification of domestic livestock and other animals; including the breeding of wild animals such as antelope, buffalo, giraffes etc. The most popular shape of ear tag is the Flag-shaped ear tag by far. However other versions also in circulation include Button shaped and Plastic clip ear tags to name a few.

There are many varieties of ear tags like electronic ear tags such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID technology), static ear tags with printed or written identification/information on them or even ear tags that caries pesticides or medicine etc.

Most developed countries in the world have a national livestock identification system for everyone to comply with to identify animals. Identification methods, and in particular ear tags; are implemented into these systems. Controlled livestock ID systems are welcomed by the farmers and breeders of these countries to ensure a reliable, tradable and professional environment.

Current conventional ear tags have a system and procedure regarding the information displayed on the ear tag. These ear tags usually have black or dark printed info on a usually yellow or orange tag. The more information on the tag the smaller the fonts get and this means the identifier must get very close to the animal to take stock or identification of the animal.

By introducing "A Multi Coloured Ear Tag" an animal can be identified through the colours portrayed on the specific tag used for each animal. The identifier will be able to take information about the given animal from further away either by straight line of sight or through enhanced visuals like binoculars. Identification of mixed animal individuals or animals in unfavourable weather should be easier identifiable through using a multi colour tagging method.

For example a colour on an ear tag can be matched with a number on an information sheet such as the animal ID number or the herd number. In another example a colour can be matched with the year the animal was born or in what year the animal joined the herd or from what bloodline the animal inherits. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In today's practise of using ear tags, around the world the norm is usually to use 10 numbers or 0-9 numbers when working with an ear tag of colour. To avoid confusion remember current ear tags are not multi coloured but single coloured. However multiple ear tags are used sometimes to identify livestock in a combination of single coloured ear tags. In other words multiple ear tags each presenting a different colour are sometimes used and tagged together or separately in an animal's ear for identification. This method can bring forth cluttering of the animal ear or sometimes confusion for the interpreter. For example a red ear tag can represent the animals year of birth and an orange ear tag can represent the animal's gender. These single one coloured ear tags would then be allocated a number from 0 - 9.

The field count for conventional tags are usually 3 - 5 fields of information on a tag, and will consist typically of an animal number, herd number and combinations of age, gender etc. and even a barcode printed on the tag for scanning. It all depends how the farmer set up his tags on his predetermined data sheet and what the farmer's needs are to identifying his animals.

A single multi coloured animal ear tag is invented. This is the inventive step.

The ear tag may be presented in sections of either coloured horizontal or vertical stripes or as either circles, square's, rectangular or triangle's, or as a combination of one or more of these mentioned. For a combination example FIG 19 depicts three horizontal stripes and two vertical stripes together with two coloured triangles inside the vertical stripes although this would be a less effective way of presenting a multi coloured ear tag. The ideal said multi coloured ear tag would consist of three to four vertical or horizontal multi coloured coloured stripes. As a result of the said invention each of the stripes are indicating with a different colour, of course. By "indicating" it means the colour telling the person what field it represents on the ear tag. As opposed to conventional ear tags, these multi coloured ear tags can be used to make identification of animals more user friendly in ways like quick identification by seeing the colours from afar where it is not possible to read any numbers or symbols on a tag. It can also prevent confusion when you calculate a number of live-stock or game in a herd for quicker identification of the animals.

This invention relates to an animal identifying method. More notably the invention relates to a multi coloured animal or livestock ear tag that make identification of one or more animals together, more elementary in a visual way. It is an object of the present invention to provide an identifying method with which the applicant believes disadvantages of known methods may at least be alleviated. These objectives are to ease the distance, time, accuracy and reading or monitoring of animal ear tag identification.

The ear tag can come in any shape or size such as round square or rectangular and won't affect the result of the invention. The invention relates to the method of how multiple colours are used in conjunction with numbers to make identifying animals easier as opposed to conventional ear tags that use one colour.

As a formality the invention is not restricted to use numbers only with colours and as another example an alphabetic letter or combination of letters and/or symbols can also be used to represent a colour.

As a first embodiment each colour used on an ear tag represents a number that the user allocates to a colour. As an example: The number 1' can be associated with the colour blue and the number 7' with the colour orange, number 3' with black and the number 5' with red. Combine these above numbers and the result may be the following 173' or 357' as an example. The user may look from afar to the animal and the user will only see the colours blue(l)-black(7)- orange(3) or orange(3)-red(5)-black(7). *See Description of drawings

As a second embodiment each colour used on an ear tag represents a number that the user allocates to a colour. As an example: The number 1' can be associated with the colour blue and the number 7' with the colour orange, number 3' with black and the number 5' with red.

Combine these above numbers and the result may be the following 1735' or 3571' as an example. The user may look from afar to the animal and the user will only see the colours blue(l)-black(7)- orange(3)-red(5) or orange(3)-red(5)-black(7)-blue(l). *See Description of drawings FIGURE 9 and FIGURE 10

Another number for example a 0' may be added to the shaft of the ear tag in this example representing the colour pink. Or the 0' could be part of the shaft and one line. The number would read 0173' or 073' *See Description of drawings, FIGURE 1 AND FIGURE 2

The farmer, livestock owner, herder etc. will have a predetermined data sheet linking the numbers he/she use to the given colours they select. The data sheet constructed and drawn up by the results they wish for.

Hence above examples explains the invention of a multi coloured animal ear tag. An animal can be quickly effectively and with less effort be identified from a distance or even at close proximity because colour association is much quicker than number reading per se. These multiple colour ear tags also help quick identifying where animals roam in thickets or are together in bigger herds.

BRI EF DESCRI PTION OF DRAWI NGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example as portrayed in the "Summary of the Invention" on pages 2 and 3 above, with reference to the following drawing(s):

Figure 1: Perspective view of an ear tag presented with vertical stripes (15) Figure 2: Perspective view of an ear tag presented with a number 0 added. Figure 3: The number 0 with colour pink can be part of another stripe/line.

Figure 4: Perspective view of an ear tag presented with another embodiment of the invention named horizontal stripes (19)

Figure 5: Perspective view of an ear tag presented with a number 0 added.

Figure 6: The number 0 with colour pink can be part of another horizontal stripe/line.

Figure 7: Vertical stripes (15). The tag consists of a front side (22) and can consist of a back side (23). Figure 8: Horizontal stripes (19). The tag consists of a front side (24) and can consist of a back side (25).

Figure 9: Rectangular (30) tag Figure 10: Round (40) tag

Figure 11: Multiple vertical stripe coloured ear tag (50)

Figure 12: Multiple horizontal stripe coloured ear tag (60)

Figure 13: Presented ear tag colour identification by means of squares (70)

Figure 14: Presented ear tag colour identification by means of triangles (80)

Figure 15: Presented ear tag colour identification by means of circles (90)

Figure 16: Presented ear tag colour identification by means of a circle divided in segments (100)

Figures 17 & 18: Multi coloured animal ear tag can identify by letters or symbols

Figures 19: Multi coloured combination ear tag (55)

Figure 111: This important display represents the colours that are represented in symbols on each of the drawings referencing from figure 1 to figure 19.

DETAI LED DESCRI PTION OF DRAWI NGS

Figure 1: According to the invention a multi coloured animal ear tag is presented with vertical stripes (15) In this Fig 1 embodiment three stripes. As example a number 3 represents a colour orange (16) or a colour orange represents a number 3 (16).

Figure 2: A number as per example 0 (17) can be added representing the colour pink for example. Four colours are now embodied in Fig 2.

Figure 3: The number 0 with colour pink can be part of another stripe/line (18) and become one. Three colours are embodied in Fig 3.

Figure 4: According to the invention a multi coloured animal ear tag is presented with horizontal stripes (19). As example a number 3 represents a colour orange (15) or a colour orange represents a number 3 (15).

Figure 5: A number as per example 0 (17) can be added representing the colour pink for example. Four colours are now embodied in Fig 5. Figure 6: The number 0 with colour pink can be part of another horizontal stripe/line (19) and become one (18) Three colours are embodied in Fig 6.

Figure 7: According to the invention a multi coloured animal ear tag is presented with vertical stripes (15). The tag consists of a front side (22) and can consist of a back side (23). When the ear tag is a vertical striped tag a small square or dot of any colour can be placed in the corner (27) of the colour, to indicate where the user should start reading the ear tag from when looking at the back (23) of the ear tag.

Figure 8: According to the invention the multi coloured animal ear tag is presented with horizontal stripes (19). The tag consists of a front side (24) and can consist of a back side (25).

Figure 9: According to the invention the multi coloured animal ear tag can be used on any form, shape or size tag including a rectangular (30) tag.

Figure 10: According to the invention the multi coloured animal ear tag can be used on any form, shape or size tag including a round (40) tag.

Figure 11: According to the invention, one to more than one or many vertical stripes can be added to a multiple coloured ear tag (50)

Figure 12: According to the invention, one to more than one or many horizontal stripes can be added to a multiple coloured ear tag (60)

Figure 13: According to the invention the multi coloured animal ear tag can present colour identification by means of squares (70)

Figure 14: According to the invention the multi coloured animal ear tag can present colour identification by means of triangles (80)

Figure 15: According to the invention the multi coloured animal ear tag can present colour identification by means of circles (90)

Figure 16: According to the invention the multi coloured animal ear tag can present colour identification by means of a circle divided in segments (100)

Figures 17 & 18: According to the invention the multi coloured animal ear tag can identify by letters or symbols representing a colour. In this example A, B C and D (200) or symbols @, $, # and ! ! (220).

Figures 19: According to the invention the multi coloured animal ear tag can present colour identification by means of a combination of horizontal (19) and vertical stripes (15) and even as example triangles (99) or circles or squares can be furthermore incorporated.

Figure 111: This important display represents the colours that are represented in symbols on each of the drawings referencing from figure 1 to figure 19. I N DUSTRIAL APPLICABI LITY

A multi coloured animal ear tag is the ideal candidate for Industrial Applicability and hence make it highly capable to manufacture these tags in large quantities by using either plastic, Perspex, metal or any other suitable durable materials.

Claims

A multi coloured animal ear tag CLAIMS

What is claimed is: 1 . An identification method for animal ear tags comprising:

(1 .1 ) A multi coloured animal ear tag determining the age, gender, herd-number etc. of live stock or animal game.

(1 .2) Any outlined border shape or form ear tag as a whole, whether flag-shaped, square, round or rectangle is used to incorporate a colour identification system by introducing multiple coloured shapes to a single ear tag.

(1 .3) More specifically the invention relates to a multi coloured ear tag consisting on the ear tag surface of either shapes of stripes/lines, blocks, circles or wedges/triangles or any combination of above shapes mentioned in point 1 .3 to make identification of livestock easier and quicker.

(1 .4) Each shape is paired with a number, letter or symbol.

Each number, letter or symbol is linked to a predetermined data sheet that will explain the number on the colour sheet.

2. In the method of claim 1 , the invention provides for a single ear tag the step of having at least two or more colours.

3. In the method of claim 1 , the step of any number can represent any colour. Any colour can represent any number from 0 - 9 or other numbers, symbols and letters in a range predetermined by the live stock or game owner on their data animal capturing sheet.

4. In the method of claim 1 , as a first embodiment the step that the direction the colours are depicted on the ear tag are vertical in straight lines.

5. In the method of claim 1 , as a second embodiment the step that the direction the colours are depicted on the ear tag are horizontal in straight lines.

6. In the method of claim 4 and 5, from a distance identification the step for the best identification shapes, are stripes; either vertical stripes or horizontal stripes

7. In the method of claim 6, the step of three to four stripes on each ear tag is most effective but can extend to the step of five or six stripes if need be but will be less effective.

8. A colour on an ear tag represents a number comprising:

8.1 As an example the step of a pink stripe may represent age; and a blue stripe may represent gender.

8.2 As a layout example the step that 2, 3, 4 or 5 stripes may indicate next to each other in a vertical arrangement on a multi coloured ear tag

Or

8.3 As an example 2, 3, 4 or 5 stripes may be indicating in a horizontal arrangement on a multi coloured ear tag. By "indicate" it means the colour telling the person what field it represents on the ear tag.

9. The step of a multi coloured ear tag that can have a combination of vertical and horizontal stripes.

1 0. The step of the amount of lines or stripes being used depend on the count of different fields of information required to depict by colour and the important fact to not put too many stripes on the ear tag as to defy the purpose of quicker identification and ease of information collection, especially over a distance. The ideal amount of stripes would probably be 3 or 4. More stripes would start defying the purpose of the invention as the stripes/lines would become thinner and harder to see and interpret from a distance.

1 1 . According to the invention: "The multi coloured animal ear tag" the step of that the tag can have identical stripes or lines on the front of the tag as well as on the back of the tag. This makes the tag readable from the front and the back and increase the possibility of drawing information from all angles on line of sight towards the tag.

1 2. In the method of claim 11 , the step of when the tag is made of vertical stripes in one mould on the front and back, an indication presented by a colour or symbol such as x or y; or as example small square or dot of a chosen colour, can be added to the backside of the tag, and to the right matching colour from the front, to ensure that the reading of the tag starts on the right colour when you flip the tag to the back; or when a user look at the back side of the tag because of his angle towards the animal. All multi coloured animal ear tags won't necessarily have both side of the tag in multicolour. It's a matter of the manufacturer's choice. ^*See Figure 7 and 8

1 3. According to the invention animal the step of coloured animal ear tag identification can be on the front face of an ear tag and conventional numbering on the back side of the ear tag. No shapes and colours on the back with only the usual numbers, barcodes etc.

14. According to the invention as a few examples the step of a certain colour on the multi coloured animal ear tag representing a certain field, comprising:

14.1 a bar code.

14.2 herd number

14.3 gender

14.4 camp or area

14.5 health condition