System, method and apparatus for providing feed toxin information and recommendations

• US 20030229505A1
• Filed: 06/11/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Can Technologies, Inc. (Cargill Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cargill Incorporated
• Inventors: Jin, Frank L., Fisher, Gary D., Yi, James Z., Craig, William Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,827,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate

Abstract

A method for providing toxin information and recommendations includes receiving toxin content data for at least one ingredient. The toxin content data may include the type and amount for toxins found in the ingredient. The ingredient is classified based on the toxin content data and a predetermined allowable toxin amount for the ingredient. Based on the classification of the ingredient, ingredient storage information is displayed. In addition, ingredient use information may be displayed based on the toxin content data.

Claims

1. A method for providing toxin information regarding ingredients used in feed to a user, the method comprising:

receiving toxin content data for at least one ingredient, the toxin content data including a type and an amount for toxins in the at least one ingredient;

classifying the at least one ingredient based on the toxin content data and a predetermined allowable toxin amount for the at least one ingredient; and

displaying ingredient storage information regarding the at least one ingredient based on the classification of the ingredient.

2. A method according to claim 1, further including displaying questions to the user to direct the user through a plurality of decision making steps regarding the at least one ingredient.

3. A method according to claim 1, further including displaying questions to the user to direct the user through a plurality of decision making steps regarding a toxin.

4. A method according to claim 1, further including allowing the user to select a link to reference information.

5. A method according to claim 4, further including displaying reference information.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the reference information includes at least one from the set comprising toxin information, ingredient information and feed information.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein classifying the ingredient includes comparing the toxin content data to the predetermined allowable toxin amount for the at least one ingredient.

8. A method according to claim 1, further including allowing the user to select a link to information pertaining to maximum allowable levels for a set of toxins.

9. A method according to claim 8, further including displaying the information pertaining to the maximum allowable levels for the set of toxins.

10. A method for providing toxin information regarding ingredients used in feed to a user, the method comprising:

receiving toxin content data for at least one ingredient, the toxin content data including a type and an amount for a toxins in the at least one ingredient;

classifying the ingredient based on the toxin content data and a predetermined allowable toxin amount for the at least one ingredient; and

displaying ingredient use information regarding the at least one ingredient based on the toxin content data for the at least one ingredient.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein displaying ingredient use information includes determining a type of feed in which to incorporate the at least one ingredient.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein displaying the ingredient use information includes determining a formula for the manufacture of the feed using the at least one ingredient.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein displaying ingredient use information includes determining recommendations for a formula for the manufacture of the feed using the at least one ingredient

14. A method according to claim 10, further including displaying questions to the user to direct the user through a plurality of decision making steps regarding the at least one ingredient.

15. A method according to claim 10, further including displaying questions to the user to direct the user through a plurality of decision making steps regarding a toxin.

16. A method according to claim 10, further including allowing the user to select a link to reference information.

17. A method according to claim 16, further including displaying reference information.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the reference information includes at least one from the set comprising toxin information, ingredient information and feed information.

19. A method according to claim 10, wherein classifying the at least one ingredient includes comparing the toxin content data to the predetermined allowable toxin amount for the at least one ingredient.

20. A method according to claim 10, further including allowing the user to select a link to information pertaining to maximum allowable levels for a set of toxins.

21. A method according to claim 20, further including displaying the information pertaining to the maximum allowable levels for the set of toxins.

22. A method of providing recommendations regarding a set of ingredients used in feed to a user, comprising:

displaying steps of a decision process to the user;

receiving operator inputs including those pertaining to toxin content of the set of ingredients in response to questions asked in the steps of the decision process;

processing the operator inputs in accordance with decision process logic stored in a digital storage medium; and

providing the recommendations to the user based on the receiving and processing steps.

23. A method according to claim 22, further including allowing the user to select a link to information pertaining to maximum allowable levels for a set of toxins.

24. A method according to claim 22, further including displaying the information pertaining to the maximum allowable levels for a set of toxins.

25. A computer user interface that provides access to a toxin management system for providing toxin information and recommendations regarding ingredients used in feed to a user, the interface comprising:

a purchasing interface including a display region that displays a predetermined allowable toxin amount for at least one ingredient;

a testing interface, coupled to the purchasing interface, including a display region that displays a set of toxins to test for in the at least one ingredient, a display region that notifies the user of a test type associated with the set of toxins, and a display region that displays a set of toxin content data for the at least one ingredient;

a classification interface, coupled to the purchasing and testing interface, including a display region that displays a classification for the at least one ingredient;

a storage interface, coupled to the classification interface, including a display region that displays a set of ingredient storage information for the at least one ingredient; and

a formulation interface, coupled to the classification interface, including a display region that displays a set of ingredient use information for the at least one ingredient.

26. An interface according to claim 25, wherein the purchasing interface includes a display region that notifies the user to test for a predetermined set of toxins in the at least one ingredient.

27. An interface according to claim 25, wherein the classification interface includes a display region that notifies the user to reject the at least one ingredient.

28. An interface according to claim 25, wherein the storage interface includes a display region that displays an additive and an amount of additive for use with the at least one ingredient.

29. An interface according to claim 25, wherein the ingredient use information displayed in the formulation interface includes a type of feed in which to incorporate the at least one ingredient.

30. An interface according to claim 25, wherein the ingredient use information displayed in the formulation interface includes a formula for the manufacture of the feed using the at least one ingredient.

31. An interface according to claim 25, wherein the ingredient use information displayed in the formulation interface includes recommendations for a formula for he manufacture of the feed using the at least one ingredient.

32. A computer program product for providing toxin information regarding ingredients used in feed to a user, the computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the program code comprising:

program code for receiving toxin content data for at least one ingredient, the toxin content data including a type and an amount of toxins in the at least one ingredient;

program code for classifying the at least one ingredient based on the toxin content data and a predetermined allowable toxin amount for the at least one ingredient;

program code for displaying storage information regarding the at least one ingredient based on the classification of the at least one ingredient; and

program code for displaying ingredient use information regarding the at least one ingredient based on the toxin content data for the at least one ingredient.

33. A computer program product according to claim 32, further including program code for displaying questions to the user to direct the user through plurality of decision making steps regarding the at least one ingredient.

34. A computer program product according to claim 32, further including program code for displaying questions to the user to direct the user through plurality of decision making steps regarding a toxin.

35. A computer program product according to claim 32, further including program code for allowing the user to select a link to reference information.

36. A computer program product according to claim 35, further including program code for displaying reference information.

37. A computer program product according to claim 35, wherein the reference information includes at least one from the set comprising toxin information, ingredient information and feed information.

38. A computer program product according to claim 32, wherein classifying the ingredient includes comparing the toxin content data to the predetermined allowable toxin amount for the at least one ingredient.

39. A computer program product according to claim 32, wherein displaying the ingredient use information includes determining a type of feed in which to incorporate the at least one ingredient.

40. A computer program product according to claim 32, wherein displaying the ingredient use information includes determining a formula for the manufacture of the feed using the at least one ingredient.

41. A computer program product according to claim 32, wherein displaying the ingredient use information includes determining recommendations for a formula for the manufacture of the feed using the at least one ingredient.

42. A computer program product according to claim 32, further including program code for allowing the user to select a link to information pertaining to maximum allowable levels for a set of toxins.

43. A computer program product according to claim 42, further including program code for displaying the information pertaining to maximum allowable levels for a set of toxins.

44. An apparatus for providing toxin information regarding ingredients used in feed to a user, the apparatus comprising:

purchasing logic that receives a predetermined allowable toxin amount for at least one ingredient;

testing logic, coupled to the purchasing logic, that receives a set of toxin content data for the at least one ingredient, the toxin content data including a type and an amount of toxins in the at least one ingredient;

classification logic, coupled to the purchasing logic and the testing logic, that classifies the at least one ingredient based on the toxin content data and the predetermined allowable toxin amount for the at least one ingredient;

storage logic, coupled to the classification logic, that displays ingredient storage information regarding the at least one ingredient based on the classification of the at least one ingredient; and

formulation logic, coupled to the testing logic and classification logic, that displays ingredient use information regarding the at least one ingredient based on the toxin content data for the at least one ingredient.

45. An apparatus according to claim 44, further including decision logic that displays questions to the user to direct the user through a plurality of decision making steps regarding the at least one ingredient.

46. An apparatus according to claim 44, further including decision logic that displays questions to the user to direct the user through a plurality of decision making steps regarding a toxin.

47. An apparatus according to claim 44, further including a link that allows the user to access reference information.

48. An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the reference information includes at least one from the set of toxin information, ingredient information and feed information.

49. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein classifying the at least one ingredient includes comparing the toxin content data to the predetermined allowable toxin amount for the at least one ingredient.

50. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein displaying the ingredient use information includes determining a type of feed in which to incorporate the at least one ingredient.

51. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein displaying the ingredient use information includes determining a formula for the manufacture of the feed using the at least one ingredient.

52. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein displaying the ingredient use information includes determining recommendations regarding a formula for the manufacture of the feed using the at least one ingredient.

53. An apparatus according to claim 44, further including a link that allows the user to access information pertaining to maximum allowable levels for a set of toxins.

54. A method of manufacturing feed, comprising:

processing feed ingredients in accordance with recommendations provided by a computer-implemented best practices feed management tool; and

mixing the feed ingredients to produce the feed.

55. A method according to claim 54, wherein the best practices feed management tool comprises a plurality of decision processes, wherein the recommendations are provided by the feed management tool as outputs of the plurality of decision making processes, and wherein the method further comprises accessing the plurality of decision making processes to receive the recommendations provided as outputs of the plurality of decision making processes.

56. A method according to claim 55, wherein the plurality of decision making processes include a decision making process pertaining to feed ingredient purchasing best practices.

57. A method according to claim 55, wherein the plurality of decision-making processes include a decision making process pertaining to feed ingredient receiving best practices.

58. A method according to claim 55, wherein the plurality of decision-making process include a decision making process pertaining to feed ingredient testing best practices.

59. A method according to claim 55, wherein the plurality of decision-making processes include a decision making process pertaining to feed ingredient storage best practices.

60. A method according to claim 55, wherein the plurality of decision-making processes include a decision making process pertaining to feed formulation best practices.

61. A method according to claim 55, wherein at least one of the plurality of decision-making processes includes a link to reference information, the reference information providing additional information regarding at least one of the steps of the decision process.

62. A system for providing toxin information regarding ingredients used in feed to a user, the system comprising:

a first process, running on the host computer, the first process for receiving toxin content data for at least one ingredient, the toxin content data including a type and an amount of toxins in the at least one ingredient;

a second process, running on the host computer, the second process for classifying the at least one ingredient based on the toxin content data and the predetermined allowable toxin amount for the at least one ingredient;

a third process, running on the host computer, the third process for displaying ingredient storage information regarding the at least one ingredient based on the classification of the at least one ingredient; and

a fourth process, running on the host computer, the fourth process for displaying ingredient use information regarding the at least one ingredient based on the toxin content data for the at least one ingredient.