Computer system for determining a customized animal feed

• US 20040098209A1
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Can Technologies, Inc. (Cargill Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Can Technologies, Inc. (Cargill Incorporated)
• Inventors: Knudson, Brian J., Cook, David A., Burghardi, Steve R., Oedekoven, Mark A., Peterson, Loren
• Granted Patent: US 6,863,023 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/32
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/02 Automatic devices automatic identification devices for stock A01K11/006
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/142 Amino acids; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 40/00 Shaping or working-up of animal feeding-stuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/10 for ruminants
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/30 for swines
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/80 for aquatic animals, e.g. fish, crustaceans or molluscs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/818 Alternative feeds for fish, e.g. in aquacultures

Abstract

A method and system for creating a customized animal feed is disclosed. The method and system include having ingredient data from more than one location, animal data, and representative of the mix of ingredients available at one or more locations. A customized feed is generated which is designed to fulfill the nutritional requirements for the animal'"'"'s diet. The nutritional requirements are derived from the animal data. Furthermore, the feed is optimized to fulfill the requirements of the evaluation criteria. Evaluation criteria such as (i) animal production rate, (ii) the cost of feed per unit animal weight gain, and (iii) the feed weight per unit animal weight gain, are then utilized together with the feed data and animal data to provide a customized feed which has been generated based upon evaluation data which is representative of one or more of the evaluation criteria.

Claims

1. (Currently Amended):

A system for determining customized feed for at least one animal, the system comprising;

a first memory portion configured to store animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

a second memory portion configured to store first feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at a first location;

a third memory portion configured to store second feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at a second location;

a fourth memory portion configured to store evaluation data representative of at least one evaluation criteria; and

a data processing circuit in communication with the memory portions and configured to generate nutrient profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data, the data processing circuit being further configured to generate ration data representative of a combination of ingredients from the first and second locations, the ration data being generated by the data processing circuit based upon the profile data, the first and second feed data and the evaluation data, wherein the evaluation criteria include at least one of (i) animal production rate, (ii) the cost of feed per unit animal weight gain, and (iii) the feed weight per unit animal weight gain.

2. (New):

The system of claim 1, wherein the animal data is representative of at least one of a beginning weight of the animal;

a desired weight of the animal;

an environment of the animal;

a feed form;

an actual or desired production level of the animal; and

a relationship of animal muscle to fat of the animal.

3. (New):

The system of claim 2, wherein the feed ingredients include at least one of a grain source, a protein source, a vitamin source, a mineral source and a fat source.

4. (New):

The system of claim 1, wherein the evaluation data is representative of at least two evaluation criteria.

5. (New):

The system of claim 4, wherein the animal data is representative of at least one of a beginning weight of the animal;

a desired weight of the animal;

an environment of the animal;

a feed form;

an actual or desired production level of the animal; and

a relationship of animal muscle to fat of the animal.

6. (New):

The system of claim 5, wherein the feed ingredients include at least one of a grain source, a protein source, a vitamin source, a mineral source and a fat source.

7. (New):

The system of claim 4, further comprising a fifth memory portion in communication with the data processing circuit, the fifth memory portion being configured to store optimization weighting data representative of the effect a respective evaluation criteria has on the generation of the ration data, the data processing circuit further generating the ration data based upon the optimization weighting data.

8. (New):

The system of claim 7, wherein the optimization weighting data may be selected to cause one of the evaluation criteria to have no effect on the generation of the ration data.

9. (New):

The system of claim 1, wherein the memory portions are portions of a digital memory and a parallel data bus is coupled between the digital memory and the data processing circuit to facilitate communication therebetween.

10. (New):

The system of claim 1, wherein the memory portions are portions of a plurality of digital memories and a network couples the digital memories to the data processing circuit to facilitate communication therebetween.

11. (New):

The system of claim 1, wherein the nutrient profile data is representative of at least two nutrient components, and the system further includes a sixth memory portion in communication with the digital processor, the sixth memory portion storing variation data representative of a range for the nutrient components of the nutrient profile and the digital processor generates a set of ration data based upon the variation data.

12. (New):

The system of claim 11, wherein the nutrient components include at least true digestible lysine and net energy.

13. (New):

The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second feed data include an amount for each feed ingredient.

14. (New):

The system of claim 13, wherein the amount for each feed ingredient can be constrained according to one or more criteria.

15. (New):

The system of claim 14, wherein the amount of each feed ingredient can be constrained according to at least two criteria.

16. (New):

A system for determining customized feed for at least one animal, the system comprising;

a first memory portion configured to store animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

a second memory portion configured to store feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at at least one location;

a third memory portion configured to store evaluation data representative of at least two evaluation criteria; and

a data processing circuit in communication with the memory portions and configured to generate profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data, the data processing circuit being further configured to generate ration data representative of a combination of ingredients from the location, the ration data being generated by the data processing circuit based upon the profile data, the feed data and the evaluation data, wherein the evaluation criteria include at least two of (i) animal production rate, (ii) cost of feed per unit animal weight gain, and (iii) feed weight per unit animal weight gain.

17. (New):

The system of claim 16, wherein the animal data is representative of at least one of a beginning weight of the animal;

a desired weight of the animal;

an environment of the animal;

a feed form;

an actual or desired production level of the animal; and

a relationship of animal muscle to fat of the animal; and

the feed ingredients include at least one of a grain source, a protein source, a vitamin source, a mineral source and a fat source.

18. (New):

The system of claim 16, further comprising a fourth memory portion in communication with the data processing circuit, the fourth memory portion being configured to store optimization weighting data representative of the effect a respective evaluation criteria has on the generation of the ration data, the data processing circuit further generating the ration data based upon the optimization weighting data.

19. (New):

The system of claim 18, wherein the optimization weighting data may be selected to cause one of the evaluation criteria to have no effect on the generation of the

20. (New):

The system of claim 16, wherein the nutrient profile data is representative of at least two nutrient components, and the system further includes a fifth memory portion in communication with the digital processor, the fifth memory portion storing variation data representative of a range for at least one nutrient component of the nutrient profile and the digital processor generates a set of ration data based upon the variation data.

21. (New):

The system of claim 20, wherein the nutrient components include at least true digestible lysine and net energy.

22. (New):

A system for determining customized feed for at least one animal, the system comprising;

first memory means for storing animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

second memory means for storing first feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at a first location;

third memory means for storing second feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at a second location;

fourth memory means for storing evaluation data representative of at least one evaluation criteria; and

processing means for generating profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data, the processing means generating ration data representative of a combination of ingredients from the first and second locations, the ration data being generated by the processing means based upon the profile data, the first and second feed data and the evaluation data, wherein the evaluation criteria include at least one of (i) animal production rate, (ii) the cost of feed per unit animal weight gain, and (iii) the feed weight per unit animal weight gain.

23. (New):

The system of claim 22, wherein the animal data is representative of at least one of a beginning weight of the animal;

a desired weight of the animal;

an environment of the animal;

a feed form;

an actual or desired production level of the animal; and

a relationship of animal muscle to fat of the animal;

the feed ingredients include at least one of a grain source, a protein source, a vitamin source, a mineral source and a fat source.

24. (New):

The system of claim 22, wherein the evaluation criteria include at least two of [a rate of] (i) animal production rate, (ii) the cost of feed per unit animal weight gain, and (iii) the feed weight per unit animal weight gain.

25. (New):

The system of claim 24, wherein the feed ingredients include at least one of a grain source, a protein source, a vitamin source, a mineral source and a fat source.

26. (New):

The system of claim 22, wherein the nutrient profile data is representative of at least two nutrient components, and the system further includes fifth memory means for storing variation data representative of a range for at least one nutrient component of the nutrient profile and the processor means generating a set of ration data based upon the variation data.

27. (New):

A system for determining customized feed for at least one animal, the system comprising;

first memory means for storing animal'"'"'data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

second memory means for storing feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at at least one location;

third memory for storing evaluation data representative of at least two evaluation criteria; and

processing means for generating profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data, processing means further generating ration data representative of a combination of ingredients from the location, the ration data being generated by the processing means based upon the profile data, the feed data and the evaluation data, wherein the evaluation criteria include at least one of (i) animal production rate, (ii) the cost of feed per unit animal weight gain, and (iii) the feed weight per unit animal weight gain.

28. (New):

The system of claim 27, wherein the animal data is representative of at least one of a beginning weight of the animal;

a desired weight of the animal;

an environment of the animal;

a feed form;

an actual or desired production level of the animal; and

a relationship of animal muscle to fat of the animal; and

wherein the feed ingredients include at least one a grain source, a protein source, a vitamin source, a mineral source and a fat source.

29. (New):

The system of claim 28, wherein the evaluation criteria include at least two of (i) animal production rate, (ii) the cost of feed per unit animal weight gain, and (iii) the feed weight per unit animal weight gain.

30. (New):

The system of claim 27, further comprising forth memory means for storing optimization weighting data representative of the effect a respective evaluation criteria has on the generation of the ration data, the processing means further generating the ration data based upon the optimization weighting data.

31. (New):

The system of claim 28, wherein the nutrient profile data is representative of at least two nutrient components, and the system further includes a fifth memory means for storing variation data representative of a range for at least one nutrient component of the nutrient profile; and

the processing means generates a set of ration data based upon the variation data.

32. (New):

A method for determining customized feed for at least one animal, the method comprising;

storing animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

storing first feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at a first location;

storing second feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at a second location;

storing evaluation data representative of at least one evaluation criteria;

generating profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data; and

generating first ration data representative of a combination of ingredients from the first location, second ration data representative of a combination of ingredients from the second locations, the ration data being generated based upon the profile data, the first and second feed data and the evaluation data.

33. (New):

The method of claim 32, wherein the nutrient profile data is representative of at least two nutrient components, the method further comprising the step of generating a set of ration data based upon variation data representative of a range for at least one nutrient component of the nutrient profile.

34. (New):

A method for determining customized feed for at least one animal, the method comprising;

storing animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

storing feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at at least one location;

storing evaluation data representative of at least two evaluation criteria;

generating profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data; and

generating ration data representative of a combination of ingredients from the location, the ration data being generated based upon the profile data the feed data and the evaluation data, wherein the nutrient profile data is representative of at least two nutrient components of the nutrient profile, and the method generates a set of ration data based upon variation data representative of a range for at least one nutrient component.

35. (New):

A customized feed for an animal, the feed produced by a process comprising;

storing animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

storing first feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at a first location;

storing second feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at a second location;

storing evaluation data representative of at least one evaluation criteria;

generating nutrient profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data;

generating first ration data representative of a combination of ingredients from the first location and second ration data representative of ingredients from the second location, each ration data being generated based upon the profile data, the first or second feed data, respectively, and the evaluation data; and

generating a set of ration data based upon variation data representative of a range for the nutrient components of the nutrient profile, wherein the nutrient profile data is representative of at least two nutrient components.

36. (New):

The process of claim 35, further comprising mixing the combinations of ingredients and feeding the feed to the livestock.

37. (New):

A customized feed for livestock, the feed produced by a process comprising;

storing animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

storing feed data representative of the feed ingredients located in at least one location;

storing evaluation data representative of at least two evaluation criteria;

generating profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data; and

generating ration data representative of a combination of the feed ingredients, the ration data being generated based upon the profile data, the feed data and the evaluation data.

38. (New):

A customized feed for livestock, the feed produced by a process comprising;

storing animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

storing feed data representative of the feed ingredients located in at least one location;

storing evaluation data representative of at least two evaluation criteria;

generating profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data; and

generating ration data representative of a combination of the feed ingredients, the ration data being generated based upon the profile data, the feed data and the evaluation data, wherein the nutrient profile data is representative of at least two nutrient components and the process further comprises the step of generating a set of ration data based upon variation data representative of a range for the nutrient components of the nutrient profile.

39. (New):

A customized feed for livestock, the feed produced by a process comprising;

storing animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

storing feed data representative of the feed ingredients located in at least one location;

storing evaluation data representative of at least two evaluation criteria;

generating profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data

generating ration data representative of a combination of the feed ingredients, the ration data being generated based upon the profile data, the feed data and the evaluation data; and

mixing the combination of ingredients and feeding the feed to the livestock.

40. (New):

A customized feed for livestock, the feed produced by a process comprising;

storing animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

storing feed data representative of the feed ingredients located in at least one location;

storing evaluation data representative of at least two evaluation criteria;

generating profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data; and

generating ration data representative of a combination of the feed ingredients, the ration data being generated based upon the profile data, the feed data and the evaluation data, wherein the ration data comprises custom feed data representative of a combination of amounts of the feed ingredients, and wherein the ration data further comprises cost data representative of a cost associated with the custom feed data.

41. (New):

A customized feed for livestock, the feed produced by a process comprising;

storing animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

storing feed data representative of the feed ingredients located in at least one location;

storing evaluation data representative of at least two evaluation criteria;

generating profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data; and

generating ration data representative of a combination of the feed ingredients, the ration data being generated based upon the profile data, the feed data and the evaluation data, wherein the ration data comprises custom feed data representative of a combination of amounts of the feed ingredients, and wherein the ration data further comprises feed weight data representative of a feed weight associated with the custom feed data.

42. (New):

A customized feed for livestock, the feed produced by a process comprising;

storing animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

storing feed data representative of the feed ingredients located in at least one location;

storing evaluation data representative of at least two evaluation criteria;

generating profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data; and

generating ration data representative of a combination of the feed ingredients, the ration data being generated based upon the profile data, the feed data and the evaluation data, wherein the ration data comprises custom feed data representative of a combination of amounts of the feed ingredients, and wherein the ration data further comprises performance data representative of a projected animal performance associated with the custom feed data.

43. (New):

A food product from an animal fed a customized feed, the food product produced by a process comprising;

storing animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

storing first feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at a first location;

storing second feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at a second location;

storing evaluation data representative of at least one evaluation criteria;

generating profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data;

generating ration data representative of a combination of ingredients from the first and second locations, the ration data being generated based upon the profile data, the first and second feed data and the evaluation data;

mixing the combination of ingredients to produce the customized feed;

feeding the customized feed to the animal; and

processing the animal to generate said food product.

44. (New):

The process of claim 43, wherein the nutrient profile data is representative of at least two nutrient components, the process further comprising the step of generating a set of ration data based upon variation data representative of a range for the nutrient components of the nutrient profile.

45. (New):

A food product from an animal fed a customized feed, the food product produced by a process comprising;

storing animal data representative of the characteristics of the animal;

storing feed data representative of the feed ingredients located at at least one location;

storing evaluation data representative of at least two evaluation criteria;

generating profile data representative of a nutrient profile for the animal based upon the animal data;

generating ration data representative of a combination of ingredients from the first and second locations, the ration data being generated based upon the profile data, the first and second feed data and the evaluation data;

mixing the combination of ingredients to produce the customized feed;

feeding the customized feed to the animal; and

processing the animal to generate said food product.

46. (New):

The process of claim 45, wherein the nutrient profile data is representative of at least two nutrient components, the process further comprising the step of generating a set of ration data based upon variation data representative of a range for the nutrient components of the nutrient profile.