Abstract

An apparatus for identification of animals passing through a packing plant including an elevated track extending through the packing plant for guiding carcasses through various processes and testing stations. A plurality of trolleys, one for each carcass, is provided for moving along the track. A gambrel is provided for attaching such animal carcasses to the trolley. The trolley identification is operably attached to each of the trolleys for providing positive identification of each individual trolley. Animal identification is attached to each carcass which is hung from each gambrel for providing individual carcass identification information. A trolley identification reader is provided adjacent to the track for automatically reading each one of the trolley identification numbers and inputting the information into a computer. Similarly, a carcass identification reader is provided adjacent to the path of the carcasses being moved along the track and this information is also input into the computer. A program is provided for matching the trolley identification number with the carcass identification information. Various processing, testing and information stations are disposed along the track and trolley identification readers are also disposed along the track at such stations for automatically reading the trolley identification. Information at the station is input into the computer also at the time that such trolley identification is being made so that the station information can be matched up and fed into the computer so that the information from each station will be tied to a trolley number being read.