Today the new version of the Destron microchips arrived. There are two main differences.

Firstly, the new chip has a 15 digit numerical code so it takes quite a bit of writing down and we all know that the more you write........ well then the greater the chance of error.

Of course 15 digits is the new International Standard so I suspect we are stuck with that....



The second and much more exciting feature is that the chip also displays temperature (in both Fahrenheit and Celsius) this is a really neat feature and the chip is accurate to plus or minus 1/2 degree Fahrenheit.



The real benefit is that in most instances you are looking for the chip in order to ID the alpaca and to be able to pick up the temperature at the same time is really neat.

Now we all know that ID microchips in alpacas (bio-thermal or otherwise) can somehow "get lost" so correct placement and checking on a regular basis is pretty much essential. With the new bio-thermal chip there is now a good reason to read chips more frequently.

How the chips will perform long term in the alpaca herd is unknown at this time, so far I am very impressed. Being able to take a temperature single handed in about 3 seconds total time is really useful.

Adrian Stewart - click here to go to Mulberry Alpacas.