RFID Rumen Bolus, 134.2 kHz FDX-B (Ceramic, ISO 11784/11785)

An identity the animal cannot lose

Ear tags tear out and get swapped; a rumen bolus does not. The dense ceramic body is given to the animal by mouth with an applicator, drops into the reticulum and stays there for the animal's life, typical for the class. Inside is a 134.2 kHz FDX-B transponder to ISO 11784/11785, the same standard as our FDX-B ear tag and animal microchip, so the RA91 reader reads all three. That suits breeding, insurance and traceability records where the ID must be hard to remove or swap, and a visual ear tag with the same number lets staff identify the animal by eye.

Reading a bolus

The transponder is read through the animal's flank, where the reticulum sits, so the reader is held against the lower left side behind the foreleg rather than at the head. The range depends on the reader and the animal; the RA91 lists figures for glass-tube and ear tags but not for boluses, so test the read at the flank on your first animals. Read the animal before and after administration to confirm the bolus is in place.

Ordering

Boluses are sized by species: an adult-cattle bolus is larger and heavier than one for goats and sheep, and the size and weight are confirmed in the quotation. Minimum order 500 pcs, the consumables rule. Request a quote with the species and whether you need applicators; the animal and pet tags category and the municipal tagging guide cover the alternatives.