What is Blockchain?
In simple terms, blockchain is the collection of data about transactions available on the network, which is transparent and accessible to people around the world. It came into action with the introduction of a renowned digital currency—bitcoin (2009).
This was a decentralized ledger for recording transactions, it started gaining trust all over the world among supply chains and consumers.
Why is it needed in Veterinary Medicine?
As one wrong vaccine is enough to abolish the entire herd and have an impact on the economy of the farmer, the need for trust and traceability came into action.
With the help of blockchain, it would be possible to tag cows with RFID or QR codes that carry their “curriculum” vitae—stored on blockchain. From the moment a calf receives its first vaccine to every medication, every disease, every movement — everything can be recorded in real time.
Global Glimpses of Blockchain in Action
- Zimbabwe: Thousands of cattle are now tracked using blockchain by E-Livestock Global and Mastercard. Each dose of vaccine, every dip, and every disease event is logged and shared digitally. This isn’t just traceability — it’s a blueprint for disease control and livestock certification. ( RFID Journal, 2021).
- India: While still growing, India has seen pilots by GS1 India using blockchain to track milk and health data from cow to consumer. QR codes on milk packs might one day show vaccination history — offering consumer trust and regulatory compliance all at once. (GS1 India, 2023)
- Argentina’s Innovation: A startup named Carnes Validadas is using blockchain to track meat production, including every vaccine, feed, and weight gain. Consumers scan a QR code and see “what, where, who, and how” it was raised — no more blind spots. (Carnes Validadas, 2021)
Current Scenario in India: Where do we stand?
India is among the largest livestock owners with an animal population of 535 million animals and still maintains its vaccination records, animal movement tracking, and disease history with papers mostly or worse not maintained at all.This creates a major gap in disease control, export compliance, and farmer trust.
- Brucellosis, Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), PPR — these still flare up in states because vaccine coverage is inconsistent and no centralized digital monitoring exists.
- Rural areas struggle with record-keeping, and inter-departmental communication between AH departments, vets, and farmers is weak.
- When a zoonotic outbreak occurs, there's no quick way to track which animals were vaccinated or who administered the dose
What’s holding us back?
- Lack of awareness among the farmers and people in general
- Slow adoption by the farmers
- Lack of uniform blockchain platforms
- No or minimal incentives for technological interventions in animal health
How Can It Be Improved?
- Digitize at the Grassroots: Equip field vets with mobile apps linked to a national blockchain network to record vaccination in real-time.
- Animal ID Integration: Tag every farm animal (like the NDDB’s INAPH program) with QR or RFID linked to vaccine history.
- Incentivize Reporting: Give farmers better prices or subsidies for maintaining transparent vaccine records on blockchain.
- Train Veterinarians: Include blockchain awareness and digital record-keeping modules in veterinary colleges.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborate with tech companies, startups, and dairy co-ops to build affordable blockchain platforms.
How will it benefit us?
- Fast Outbreak Control: Identify, isolate, and respond faster to disease threats.
- Global Export Boost: Countries importing Indian meat or dairy demand full traceability. Blockchain records can make India a trustworthy exporter.
- Better Farmer Confidence: With vaccine records on their phones, farmers trust the system and are more likely to vaccinate routinely.
- More Efficient Vets: Time spent filling paper logs can now go into actual patient care.
Conclusion
Blockchain can be India’s backbone for biosecurity in the coming decades.
All we need to do is spread awareness and be early adopters of this innovation. This can not only improve our GDP but also will lead to overall development of the country.
Along with this, we can not only improvise the proper vaccination but also prevent a lot of zoonotic disease spread.
References:
- RFID Journal (2021). RFID, Blockchain Provide Digital Record of Cattle Health in Zimbabwe. Retrieved from https://www.rfidjournal.com/news/rfid-blockchain-provide-digital-record-of-cattle-health-in-zimbabwe/192864/
- GS1 India (2023). Blockchain for Dairy and Livestock Tracking. Retrieved from https://gs1india.org/pages/blockchain
- Carnes Validadas (2021). A Transparent Meat Journey from Farm to Fork. Retrieved from https://carnesvalidadas.com.ar/
