Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Cows Identified by Retinal Imaging

Posted by michael on from the don't-blink dept.

wackoman2112 writes "According to this article, ranchers on western cattle ranches are keeping track of their cattle with the "OptiReader," a small handheld which takes retinal scans. They scan a cow's eye and record information in the database about the animal's color, weight, and genetic linage. Hmmm... This could be justification for a YRO for animals."

1 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. inventory control by Naikrovek · · Score: 4, Insightful

    inventory control is something to me that makes a lot of sense. people foamed at the mouth when RFID tags were to be put in clothes, but few realized that they're useless once they leave the store that owns the clothes. its just inventory control, to keep people from stealing said clothes.

    farmers are doing it for more than just inventory control though, they're using it to easily determine which genetic lines produce the best milk producers, the best meat, etc. this is a good thing, it *should* lower the prices of milk and beef a bit, and it should improve the overall quality the steak on your table.

    i'm all for this. technology for tracking isn't *all* bad.