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28. December 2020
Microchip vs. tattoo – What should you use?
Before the RFID technology animals where marked with a tattoo on the ear or inner leg side. The benefit was that the number was visible from the outside but it had major disadvantages.
Here is a comparison:
Microchip
+ The chip number can be read during the animal’s whole life span with a scanner.
+ The skin color doesn’t matter at all.
+ The scanner can be hold several cm away from the animal.
+ The mini chip (1,4 x 8,5 mm) is suitable for nearly all animals.
+ If operated correctly, the chip can be set in seconds without any harm for the animal.
+ The structure of the chip number is ISO standardized. The manufacturer can be identified easily.
+ ICAR controls the numbers and the manufacturers. The number on certified chips is unique and the ISO standards guaranteed.
+ The chip number is read only and provides a certain degree of security.
+ The chip stays safe under the animals skin.
– The chip nuber can be read with a special scanner only.
Tattoo
– A tattoo fades relatively quickly and is not readable then.
– Even a freshly made tattoo is difficult to read on dark skin.
– The animal has to be touched to raise the ear or the leg. It is not easy when the animal is scared or agressive.
– Tiny animals can not be tattooed.
– The animal has to be put under anesthesia during the process. It is costly and time cunsuming.
– There are no standards for the code, every vet has its own system. It makes it hard to identify the owner correctly.
– The codes are not unique. There are no control mechanisms to guarantee that.
– Tattoos can be forged easily.
– The tattoed ear can be cut off by crimninals.
+ The number is visible from the outside.