Cattle Management System and Method

• US 20060185605A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Animal Health International Incorporated (Patterson Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lextron, Inc.
• Inventors: Carisch, James, Renz, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,441,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/51.20
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining

Abstract

A cattle management system and method are provided for managing numerous routine and non-routine management activities. The system and method incorporate a data processing system wherein comprehensive data is gathered and maintained on each individual animal as well as on selected groups of animals. Preferably, a central database is used which allows enhanced functionality with respect to not only data entry and data transfer, but also with respect to providing system generated management recommendations. Some significant functionality of the present invention includes the ability to track the location of each individual animal by utilizing unique identification data for each animal, recording all monitored events that take place at each location during the animal'"'"'s production cycle, managing feeding operations at a feed lot wherein ration changes can be automatically triggered by parameters and rules established for each feed lot, and reporting the events and locations as required to government entities, financial institutions, and other entities within the cattle industry.

Claims

1. A method of managing cattle, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a data processing system including a processor, central data storage, and programming instructions for executing functions in response to data input;

establishing a plurality of recommended actions for management based upon mathematical relationships applied to a plurality of criteria corresponding to recorded animal data,

conducting cattle management operations including conducting feeding of cattle;

inputting initial data to the data processing system corresponding to information regarding cattle feeding;

comparing the initial data to the recommendations to determine if the data corresponds to a recommended action;

providing the recommended action for cattle feed management, said recommended action including at least one of a printed report and a user interface screen prescribing details on the recommended action; and

wherein subsequent data inputs made to the system result in providing an updated recommended action in response to a change in value of the mathematical relationships based upon the subsequent data inputs that differ from the initial data inputs.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

one recommended action of said plurality of recommended actions includes prescribing a change of ration for the animal.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said change of ration includes a change of macro and micro-ingredients used in the ration.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said micro-ingredients include an ingredient having a corresponding withdrawal day requirement wherein cattle consuming said micro-ingredient cannot be shipped until the withdrawal day requirement is satisfied, and said method further comprises the step of generating an electronic message in the form of a user interface warning a user that the cattle cannot be shipped if the cattle are currently scheduled for shipment prior to said requirement.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

one recommended action of said plurality of recommended actions includes prescribing a recommended feeding action including a description of the ration ingredients, an amount of the ration, and when the ration should be fed during a feeding day.

6. A system for managing cattle, said system comprising:

a data processor;

data storage associated with said data processor;

programming instructions residing in said data storage for executing instructions based upon user data input;

said programming instructions including a plurality of recommended actions for management of feed provided to the cattle based upon mathematical relationships applied to a plurality of criteria corresponding to selected animal data;

a data input device for inputting data into said data processing system;

means for outputting information reflective of the recommendations said outputting means including at least one of a printed report and a user interface screen prescribing details on the recommended action; and

wherein data input into said data processing system is stored in a central database of said data storage, and subsequent data inputs made to the system result in providing an updated recommended action taking into account a change in value of the mathematical relationships based upon subsequent data inputs that differ from initial data inputs.

7. A system, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

one recommended action of said plurality of recommended actions includes prescribing a change of ration for the animal.

8. A system, as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said one recommended action includes a change of macro and micro-ingredients used in the ration.

9. A system, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said micro-ingredients include an ingredient having a corresponding withdrawal day requirement wherein cattle consuming said micro-ingredient cannot be shipped until the withdrawal day requirement is satisfied, and said method further comprises the step of generating an electronic message in the form of a user interface warning a user that the cattle cannot be shipped if the cattle are currently scheduled for shipment prior to said requirement.

10. A system, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

one recommended action of said plurality of recommended actions includes prescribing a recommended feeding action including a description of the ration ingredients, an amount of the ration, and when the ration should be fed during a feeding day.

11. A method of generating a recommended action in a data processing system for cattle management, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a data processing system including a processor, central data storage, and programming instructions for executing functions in response to data input;

establishing a plurality of criteria corresponding to individual animal data and group animal data;

generating at least one mathematical formula incorporating at least one criteria; and

determining a threshold value for the formula corresponding to a recommended management action, said recommended management action including at least one of a change of ration for an animal, and a method of administering the ration to the animal

conducting cattle management operations to include feeding of cattle over a period of time;

entering data in the system reflective of actions taken place for feeding the cattle, at least some actions corresponding to said criteria;

calculating the actual value of the formula using the actions corresponding to said criteria and comparing the actual value to the threshold value;

generating said recommended management action if said actual value satisfies said threshold value, said recommended management action comprising at least one of a printed report and an electronic message in the form of a user interface each describing said recommended management action.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said criteria includes a feeding of the day, a percentage of how much to feed an animal during a particular feeding, a ration code identifying a type of ration, and an amount of ration per head of cattle.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said mathematical formula includes a plurality of mathematical formulas.

14. A method, as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said threshold value of the formula comprises a range of values.

15. A method, as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said criteria include at least one of a weight of the animal, a breed of the animal, and a sex of the animal.

16. A method of managing feeding of cattle in a data processing system for cattle management, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a data processing system including a processor, central data storage, and programming instructions for executing functions in response to data input;

establishing a plurality of management parameters including feed call, feed calculation, and feed delivery for a selected group of cattle in a selected location, said parameters being stored in said central data storage;

recording data concerning said cattle including the number, type, and locations of said cattle in a feed lot operation;

determining how to feed said cattle based on said management parameters, said tasks including what ration to feed, when to feed the cattle, how much to feed the cattle at each feeding, and what order the cattle should be fed at each feeding;

developing instructions for feeding said cattle including instructions for batching rations, loading feed trucks, and delivering feed to the selected cattle;

conducting cattle management operations to include feeding of cattle over a period of time, and observing and recording variances in amounts to be fed versus actually fed, variances in amounts to be loaded on feed trucks versus actually loaded on the trucks, and amounts of feed consumed in pens versus amounts delivered to the pens;

adjusting at least one of the feed call, feed calculation, and feed delivery parameters in response to said conducting step; and

resuming said conducting step.

17. A method, as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

providing a feed production and delivery user interface screen comprising a display of calculated loads derived from said management parameters and said recorded data, said display including a spreadsheet illustrating pens, load numbers, load balances, called amounts, actual fed amounts, and variances between said called amounts and said fed amounts.

18. A method, as claimed in claim 16, wherein said feed production and delivery user interface screen further comprises a print feed sheets option for printing load cards reflective of said calculated loads.

19. A method, as claimed in claim 16, wherein said feed production and delivery user

interface screen further comprises an electronic interface with a feed mill forsending batching instructions to said feed mill, said feed mill preparing rations of feed comprising macro and micro-ingredients.

20. A method, as claimed in claim 16, wherein said feed production and delivery user

interface screen further comprises graphs illustrating the status of a particular feeding, said graphs comprising percentage completion of committing feed, load calculation, and fed status.

21. A method, as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

maximizing truck load capacities by dynamic loading, said dynamic loading including reassigning load numbers in said user interface screen resulting in loads being reassigned to said trucks and said spreadsheet of said user interface screen being refreshed to display new load numbers assigned to said trucks.