Core-temperature-based herd management system and methods
First Claim
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1. A method of managing a herd of animals for purposes of health evaluation and treatment, the method comprising:
- placing a number of animals serially in a manufactured livestock chute, the chute for restraining the animals;
determining for each animal if the animal has a machine-readable identification tag thereon;
if the animal does not have a machine-readable identification tag thereon, placing a machine-readable identification tag on the animal while in the chute;
electronically receiving identification data from the animal'"'"'s identification tag at an electronic data processor;
measuring the core temperature of the animal while in the chute;
electronically receiving an indication of the core temperature at the data processor, wherein the data processor is programmed to determine a health category for the animal based at least in part on the core temperature indication and to determine a dosing amount for medicinally treating the animal based at least in part on the core temperature indication;
treating the animal in accordance with the dosing amount while in the chute;
tagging the animal with one of a number of color codes, the color code corresponding to the health category of the animal;
routing the animal from the chute to one of at least two holding pens based on the health category of the animal, each pen comprising a gate;
electronically sending the dosing amount to medicine-delivering equipment associated with the holding pens; and
reporting, by the data processor, of identification data and core temperature data of animals passing through the chute within specified time periods.
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Abstract
A system and method for managing a herd of animals possibly requiring medical treatment, such as cows in a feedlot. The animals are herded individually into a chute, where identification data is collected from a tag, and core temperature data is collected using a special non-contacting core temperature sensor. The animal is tagged with a color coded tag representing a range of temperatures into which that animal'"'"'s temperature falls. The animal is then delivered to a pen corresponding to that range of temperatures, where appropriate medicinal treatment is automatically dosed and applied to the animal.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of managing a herd of animals for purposes of health evaluation and treatment, the method comprising:
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placing a number of animals serially in a manufactured livestock chute, the chute for restraining the animals; determining for each animal if the animal has a machine-readable identification tag thereon; if the animal does not have a machine-readable identification tag thereon, placing a machine-readable identification tag on the animal while in the chute; electronically receiving identification data from the animal'"'"'s identification tag at an electronic data processor; measuring the core temperature of the animal while in the chute; electronically receiving an indication of the core temperature at the data processor, wherein the data processor is programmed to determine a health category for the animal based at least in part on the core temperature indication and to determine a dosing amount for medicinally treating the animal based at least in part on the core temperature indication; treating the animal in accordance with the dosing amount while in the chute; tagging the animal with one of a number of color codes, the color code corresponding to the health category of the animal; routing the animal from the chute to one of at least two holding pens based on the health category of the animal, each pen comprising a gate; electronically sending the dosing amount to medicine-delivering equipment associated with the holding pens; and reporting, by the data processor, of identification data and core temperature data of animals passing through the chute within specified time periods. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of managing a herd of animals for purposes of health evaluation and treatment, the method comprising:
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placing animals serially in a manufactured livestock chute, the chute for restraining the animals; determining for each animal if the animal has a machine-readable identification tag thereon; if the animal does not have a machine-readable identification tag thereon, placing a machine-readable identification tag on the animal while in the chute; electronically receiving identification data from the animal'"'"'s identification tag at a data processor; measuring the core temperature of the animal while in the chute; electronically receiving an indication of the core temperature at the data processor, wherein the data processor is programmed to determine a health category for the animal based at least in part on the core temperature indication and to determine a dosing amount for medicinally treating the animal based at least in part on the core temperature indication; treating the animal in accordance with the dosing amount while in the chute; tagging the animal with one of a number of color codes, the color code corresponding to the health category of the animal; routing the animal from the chute to one of at least three holding pens based on the health category of the animal, each pen comprising a gate; and reporting, by the data processor, of identification data and core temperature data of animals passing through the chute within specified time periods. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of managing a herd of animals for purposes of health evaluation and treatment, the method comprising:
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placing animals serially in a manufactured livestock chute, the chute for restraining the animals; measuring the core temperature of each animal while the animal is in the chute; electronically receiving an indication of the core temperature at a data processor, wherein the data processor is programmed to determine a health category for the animal based at least in part on the core temperature indication and to determine a dosing amount for medicinally treating the animal based at least in part on the core temperature indication; treating the animal in accordance with the dosing amount while in the chute; tagging the animal with one of a number of color codes, the color code corresponding to the health category for the animal; routing the animal from the chute to one of at least three holding pens based on the health category of the animal, each pen comprising a gate; sending the dosing amount to medicine-delivering equipment associated with the holding pens; and reporting, by the data processor, of core temperature data of animals passing through the chute within specified time periods. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of managing a herd of animals for purposes of health evaluation and treatment, the method comprising:
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placing animals serially in a manufactured livestock chute, the chute for restraining the animals; measuring the core temperature of each animal while the animal is in the chute; electronically receiving an indication of the core temperature at a data processor, wherein the data processor is programmed to determine a health category for the animal based at least in part on the core temperature indication and to determine a dosing amount for medicinally treating the animal based at least in part on the core temperature indication; treating the animal in accordance with the dosing amount while in the chute; tagging the animal with one of a number of color codes, the color code corresponding to the health category for the animal; routing the animal from the chute to one of at least three holding pens based on the health category of the animal, each pen comprising a gate; and reporting, by the data processor, of core temperature data of animals passing through the chute within specified time periods. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification