Method and system for livestock data collection and management

• US 20020158765A1
• Filed: 02/11/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aginfolink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Andrew J. Dolan, Leland D. Curkendall, Matt Morrison, Olin Mark Armentrout, William R. Pape
• Inventors: Pape, William R., Armentrout, Olin Mark, Dolan, Andrew J., Curkendall, Leland D., Morrison, Matt
• Granted Patent: US 6,664,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.3
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/007 Boluses
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An efficient method and apparatus for livestock data collection and management is described to provide quality assurance source verification data and performance tracking for individual animals throughout the production cycle. Individual animal data is efficiently collected, transferred, and shared in a transactional, event-oriented, row-oriented structure with few columns without need for creating relational structures. The BeefLink™ software includes components for data collection and real-time data lookup components; share, switch, route, and interface components; extract, transform, and load components; and report and analyze data components. Embodiments include data acquisition from multiple RFID reader locations; a web-based information system for a beef marketing alliance; value-based procurement, and supply chain management.

Claims

1. A portable, hand-held, radio frequency identification reader for collecting livestock information comprising:

a housing enclosing a radio frequency identification antenna, radio frequency identification circuitry, radio frequency data communications circuitry, and a power supply, such that

the power supply is connected to the radio frequency identification circuitry and to the radio frequency data communications circuitry,

the antenna is connected to the radio frequency identification circuitry, such that the antenna may capture a radio frequency signal from a radio frequency identification transponder and communicate the signal to the radio frequency identification circuitry,

the radio frequency identification circuitry may interpret the signal and identify the transponder and communicate the identification to the radio frequency data communications circuitry,

a radio frequency data communications antenna, such that the transponder identification may broadcast through the antenna;

an indicator light means to indicate when the reader is within acceptable range of a radio frequency communications receiver.transmitter; and

a switch integral to the housing such that the switch activates the radio frequency identification circuitry.

2. A method for collecting livestock information comprising:

identifying each animal with a unique identifier selected from the group consisting of radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder, such that the transponder provides a unique code when queried by a radio frequency identification reader unit, and that code identifies a particular animal,

barcode, such that the barcode provides a unique code when queried by a bar code reader unit, and that code identifies a particular animal,

unique biological characteristics including DNA, retinal scans, and iris scans, and a visual identification device such as an ear tag that can subsequently be related to an RFID code, a barcode, or a unique biological characteristic;

determining the animal unique identifier at the time of a key animal event;

uploading the animal unique identifier to an event database on a host computer;

entering at least a portion of the data associated with the key animal event to the computer; and

maintaining on at least one computer a database of events and measurement data for the animal, such that the data can be accessed according to the animal'"'"'s unique identifier.

3. A method of entering event data common to a group of individual animals into a database, the method comprising

individually identifying the animals in the group;

specifying a regimen to be applied to the group by

predefining, before the entry of the event data into the database, at least one regimen event common to the animals in the group, and

predefining an event detail to be associated with each event in the regimen;

identifying the regimen with an identifier;

associating the event identifier with individual animals at the time of processing the animals; and

recording into the database, for each animal, each event and event detail in the regimen.

4. The method of claim 3 comprising

predefining a scan event as a regimen event;

prompting, at the time of processing an animal, a user to identify a specific event, such as vaccinating with a particular type of vaccine;

accepting the specific event;

prompting the user to identify a specific event detail, such as vaccination dosage, associated with the specific event;

accepting the event detail; and

recording into the database the specific event and the event detail provided by the user.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein accepting the specific event comprises

selecting, by the user, an event from a plurality of possible events for the regimen;

and

entering an event detail by scanning a detail value from a plurality of possible event details associated with the event.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising

overriding the entry of regimen events and details for an animal.

7. A wireless livestock data collection system comprising

a host computer with data collection software;

a base station connected to the host computer;

a means for unique animal identification;

a plurality of unique animal identification readers in wireless communication with the base station; and

a plurality of data measurement devices in wireless communication with the base station.

8. The wireless livestock data collection system of claim 7 wherein

the base station includes a global positioning system device.

9. A computer implemented method for identifying, tracking and monitoring livestock, comprising:

inputting an animal unique code for an animal;

capturing at least one event and detail attribute associated with the animal unique code at a first time and a first place, and storing that data on a first transaction database;

capturing at least one event and detail attribute associated with the animal unique code at a second time and a second place, and storing that data on a second transaction database;

running queries that identify individual animals form attribute data or which identify attribute data for a particular animal by

accessing the first transaction database, and

accessing the second transaction database; and

displaying query results.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

assigning authorization levels to permit an entity to access at least a portion of the attribute data for a particular animal.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

transferring at least a portion of the attribute data associated with a particular animal from the first database to a third database.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

injecting at least a portion of the data from the first and second transaction databases into a spreadsheet and using spreadsheet functions to analyze and display the data.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing event creation, manipulation, storage and access functions with components.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein creating event creation, manipulation, storage and access from components comprises:

validating connection authorization and communication encryption;

providing standardized methods for creating and modifying events;

representing events by user-configurable language;

creating transactions in a standardized and normalized format;

sending synchronous and asynchronous messages to components before, during and after event object creation or modification; and

allowing for verification, modification and cancellation of the event connected by the components.

15. A method of livestock supply chain management comprising

individually identifying a plurality of animals from a plurality of producers;

capturing data for a first animal on a first database;

capturing data for the first animal on a second database;

capturing data for a second animal on a third database;

providing a directory which identifies the databases containing data for each animal, so that the data for the animal can be accessed from a plurality of databases;

forecasting growth and quality characteristics of animals based on the historical data for the animal;

forecasting the demand over time for animals;

assigning individual animals to meet the forecasted demand based upon the forecasted growth and quality characteristics.

16. A distributed transactional database comprising:

a first database containing a first portion of data associated with a particular agricultural item, the first database comprising a plurality of rows, each row comprising

A unique item identification element,

A unique event identification element,

A parent identification,

A date and time of the event,

An event,

An event detail, and

An entity identification; and

a second database containing a second portion of data associated with the item or a product transformation of the item, the second database comprising a plurality of rows, each row comprising

A unique item identification element,

A unique event identification element,

A parent identification,

A date and time of the event,

An event,

An event detail, and

An entity identification.