Animal Biometrics

The Biometrics Lab in partnership with Agricultural Extension worked with Christy Blomeke on a project to evaluate retinal imaging as a means of permanent identification of 4-H beef and sheep projects. The specific objectives of this study were to compare the time required to collect a retinal image versus a nose print, and to determine the false match and false non-match rate of visual verification for each identification method in beef and sheep. The OptiReader™ Device, designed by Optibrand Ltd., LLC, was used to capture digital images of the retinal vascular pattern of beef and sheep projects being enrolled in the Indiana 4-H program. Nose prints were also collected by county committee members using ink and index cards. A total of 317 beef and 159 sheep were re-imaged at county fairs in order to collect retinal images to compare with the images collected during 4-H enrollment. The on-site visual verification rate was 96.2 percent for beef, and 100 percent for sheep. Retinal images from nine additional beef cattle were verified by Optibrand technicians using visual and electronic verification methods. A subset of the re-imaged animals was nose printed again for comparison by a finger print examiner who determined that, two pairs of prints did not match. A recording error was discovered to be the cause of the incorrectly paired nose prints.

The second objective was investigated by providing Extension Educators and 4-H adult volunteers with a visual verification exercise. The exercise consisted of 20 pairs of retinal images and 20 pairs of nose prints, ten pairs each from both beef and sheep. Participants were asked to determine if each pair was a match by circling YES, NO, or UNSURE. The results showed that individuals could correctly identify a pair of retinal images as a match 98.6 % of the time for beef and 84.9 % of the time for sheep. Nose prints were correctly identified as a match 68.9% of the time for beef, and 79.5% of the time for sheep. The researcher concluded that the retinal imaging system is a viable method for enrolling Indiana 4-H beef and sheep projects.

In 2005, a further study is being undertaken that will examine the Perceptions of Extension Educators, 4-H Volunteers, and 4-H Members Regarding the Use of Retinal Imaging to Identify 4-H Beef, Sheep, and Goat Projects.

This paper will outline the results of a survey being conducted with three different populations who used the equipment in 2005; 4-H members whose animals were identified by the equipment; county volunteers who used the retinal imaging equipment during the enrollment process; and county 4-H Educators who determined whether or not the retinal imaging equipment would be used in a particular county. The survey was sent out in early 2006 to determine the perceptions surrounding retinal imaging within the     4-H community. The results will be insightful, as Indiana is the first state to use biometric identification of animals. Retinal imaging is currently being investigated by other state   4-H programs. This identification method could also play a key role in the US National Animal Identification System. Understanding end-users perceptions will be vital to understanding how retinal imaging will be adopted in the field

Previous Work and Publications

	Rusk, C. P., Blomeke C. R., Balschweid, M. A., Elliott, S. J., & Baker, D., (2006). An Evaluation of Retinal Imaging Technology for 4-H Beef and Sheep Identification. Journal of Extension
	Counties turn to retinal scans to ID Cattle, Chicago Sun Times, (January 18, 2006)
	Retinal scans will identify 4-H cattle, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (January 18, 2006)
	Fairs turn to retinal scans to ID livestock, Fort Wayne News Sentinel (January 17, 2006)
	Blomeke, C. R., Rusk, C. P., Balschweid, M. A., & Elliott, S. J., (2004). Animal identification by retinal imaging and applications for biosecurity, Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security Symposium, West Lafayette, IN.