System and method for processing meat

• US 20040040513A1
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Better Beef Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: David H. Long
• Inventors: Long, David H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,939,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/51.01
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/00 Feeding devices for stock or game A01K1/10 takes precedence; feeding devices for poultry or other birds A01K39/00 ; Feeding wagons; Feeding stacks
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/02 Automatic devices automatic identification devices for stock A01K11/006
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0216 for the distribution of liquid fodder A01K9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 7/00 Slaughterhouse arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/60 for weanlings

Abstract

A system and method is shown for processing animals, such as calves, from birth to slaughter by utilizing hot-fed rations during the feeding process. The system and method reduces or eliminates the need to use hormones and simultaneously reduces or eliminates the need to sterilize the meat products. Each calf or animal is weaned at a weaning station, fed at a feeding station, slaughtered at a slaughter station to provide a carcass that is substantially the same size as other carcasses for the same breed of animal processed in the system. The consistent carcass size enables manufacture of consistent carcasses which, in turn, facilitates providing substantially the same size meat cuts. This feature enables use of a standard-size packaging, such as a case-ready package, which may be shipped for display and purchase at a store.

Claims

1. A method for feeding cattle, comprising the steps of:

weaning a calf from its mother after a predetermined time; and

feeding the calf feed rations that have been cooked above a predetermined temperature.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of:

feeding the calf feed rations that have been cooked above 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said feed rations are corn or starch grains.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of:

slaughtering said calf when it reaches a slaughter weight.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said slaughter weight is at least 1000 pounds.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said slaughter weight is between 1000-1300 pounds.

7. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said method further comprises the step of:

repeating said method for a plurality of calves.

8. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said method further comprises the step of:

slaughtering said calf when it reaches a slaughter weight.

9. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said slaughter weight is at least 1000 pounds.

10. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said slaughter weight is between 1000-1300 pounds.

11. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said method further comprises the step of:

repeating said method for a plurality of calves.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said method further comprises the step of:

cutting meat from each of said calves substantially the same size for packaging in case-ready packages.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said method further comprises the step of:

packaging said cut meat in substantially identical case-ready packages.

14. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said method further comprises the step of:

displaying said case-ready packages at a store for purchase by a consumer.

15. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined period is at least 3 days, said method further comprising the steps of:

feeding said calf at a weaning station;

transferring said calf to a feed station after said calf reaches s a transfer weight at said weaning station.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said transfer weight is at least 300 pounds.

17. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said predetermined period is at least 3 days, said method further comprising the steps of:

feeding said calf at a weaning station;

transferring said calf to a feed station after said calf reaches s a transfer weight at said weaning station.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said transfer weight is at least 300 pounds.

19. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the process occurs in fourteen months or less for each of a plurality of calves.

20. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a grain-to-meat conversion ration is less than about twenty to thirty pounds per day of feed ration produces between three to four pounds of body weight.

21. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein a grain-to-meat conversion ration is less than about twenty to thirty pounds per day of feed ration produces between three to four pounds of body weight.

22. A method for feeding cattle, comprising the steps of:

weaning a calf from its mother after a predetermined number of days;

feeding the calf feed rations that have been cooked above 160 degrees Fahrenheit;

slaughtering said calf when it reaches a predetermined weight;

cutting meat from each of said calves substantially the same size for packaging in case-ready packages;

packaging said cut meat in substantially identical case-ready packages; and

repeating said method for a plurality of calves.

23. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein said feed rations are corn or starch grains.

24. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein said predetermined number of days is three days or less.

25. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein said predetermined weight is at least 1000 pounds.

26. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein said predetermined weight is between 1000-1300 pounds.

27. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein said packaging step further comprises the step of:

situating said cut meat in said substantially identical case-ready packages;

wrapping said case-ready packages;

shipping said case-ready packages to a store for purchase by a consumer.

28. A process for improving meat quality and increasing meat-from-feed conversion for cattle comprising the steps of:

weaning each of said cattle from its mother after a predetermined time;

feeding each said cattle cooked feed after said predetermined time; and

slaughtering each of said cattle when it achieves a predetermined weight.

29. The process as recited in claim 28 wherein said process further comprises the step of:

feeding the cattle feed rations that have been cooked above 160 degrees F.

30. The process as recited in claim 29 wherein said feed rations are corn or starch grains.

31. The process as recited in claim 28 wherein said process further comprises the step of:

slaughtering said cattle when it reaches a predetermined weight.

32. The process as recited in claim 31 wherein said predetermined weight is at least 1000 pounds.

33. The process as recited in claim 31 wherein said predetermined weight is between 1000-1300 pounds.

34. The process as recited in claim 31 wherein said process further comprises the step of:

repeating said process for a plurality of calves.

35. The process as recited in claim 29 wherein said process further comprises the step of:

slaughtering said cattle when it reaches a predetermined weight.

36. The process as recited in claim 31 wherein said predetermined weight is at least 1000 pounds.

37. The process as recited in claim 31 wherein said predetermined weight is between 1000-1300 pounds.

38. The process as recited in claim 31 wherein said process further comprises the step of:

repeating said process for a plurality of calves.

39. The process as recited in claim 38 wherein said process further comprises the step of:

cutting meat from each of said calves substantially the same size for packaging in case-ready packages.

40. The process as recited in claim 39 wherein said process further comprises the step of:

packaging said cut meat in substantially identical case-ready packages.

41. The process as recited in claim 31 wherein said process further comprises the step of:

displaying said case-ready packages at a store for purchase by a consumer.

42. A system for improving meat quality comprising:

a weaning station for weaning a calf from its mother after a predetermined period;

a cooking station for cooking feed above a predetermined temperature to provide cooked feed;

a feeding station for feeding said cooked feed to said calf;

a slaughter station for slaughtering said calf when it reaches a slaughter weight.

43. The system as recited in claim 42 wherein said predetermined temperature is at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

44. The system as recited in claim 42 wherein said feed comprises corn or starch grains.

45. The system as recited in claim 42 wherein said slaughter weight is at least 1000 pounds.

46. The system as recited in claim 45 wherein said slaughter weight is between 1000-1300 pounds.

47. The system as recited in claim 46 wherein said system further comprises:

a cutting station for cutting meat from each of said calves substantially the same size for packaging in case-ready packages.

48. The system as recited in claim 47 wherein said system further comprises:

a packaging station for said cut meat in substantially identical case-ready packages.

49. The system as recited in claim 42 wherein said predetermined period is 3 days or less.

50. The system as recited in claim 49 wherein said calf is transferred from said weaning station to said transfer station when said calf reaches a weight of at least 300 pounds.