Livestock management systems and methods

• US 20080059330A1
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MWI Veterinary Supply Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Micro Beef Technologies Ltd (MWI Veterinary Supply Incorporated)
• Inventors: Crain, Scott, Stroman, Richard, Afimiwala, Khurshid, Gibb, James, Niedecken, Timothy, Brink, Philip
• Application Number:
  US11/977,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059330A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

This invention relates to systems and methods for managing livestock, such as cattle, from conception to consumption. More particularly, this invention relates to systems and methods in which users, such as producers, feedlot managers, packers, buyers, sellers, and consumers, are brought together through shared information and improved communication. Users may access one or more applications, tools, and/or systems to increase the value of each animal, monitor and track each animal, and improve the efficiency of their operation.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a user to manage orders for a plurality of animals, said method comprising:

entering attributes of each of said plurality of animals into a central database;

accessing beef marketing program requirements in said central database;

comparing attributes to said program requirements;

automatically facilitating at least one transaction between a plurality of users based at least in part on said comparison, wherein each user of said plurality of users are at different locations; and

updating an inventory when said transaction has been completed.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing said user with access to pricing information pertaining to said plurality of animals.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

enabling said user to view information relating to an inventory of said plurality of animals.

4. A system of enabling a user to manage orders for a plurality of animals, said method comprising:

a server;

a plurality of computers coupled to said server; and

a central database coupled to said server;

wherein said server is configured to;

enter attributes of each of said plurality of animals into said central database;

access beef marketing program requirements in said central database;

compare attributes to said program requirements;

automatically facilitate at least one transaction between a plurality of users based at least in part on said comparison, wherein each user of said plurality of users are at different locations; and

update an inventory when said transaction has been completed.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said server is further configured to:

provide said user with access to pricing information pertaining to said plurality of animals;

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said server is further configured to:

enable said user to view information relating to an inventory of said plurality of animals.

7. A method of assisting a user in purchasing livestock related to a selected beef marketing program based on collected information in a central database, said method comprising:

accessing beef marketing program requirements from said central database;

comparing said collected information with said program requirements of said selected beef marketing program; and

providing said user with livestock purchase decision information which assists said user to purchase said livestock and allows said user to ensure that said purchased livestock complies with said selected beef marketing program.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

enabling a seller to provide product information about at least one of a product and a service to said central database.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

providing said user with content related to said livestock operation.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

automatically assisting said user to sell at least one of a product and a service to another user.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

enabling said user to purchase at least one animal of a plurality of animals from an auction.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said enabling comprises:

automatically obtaining bids on said at least one animal.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing said user with access to information relating to said animal.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing said user with video data relating to said auction.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing said user with audio data relating to said auction.

16. A system of assisting a user in purchasing livestock related to a selected beef marketing program based on collected information in a central database, said system comprising:

a server;

a plurality of computers coupled to said server; and

a central database coupled to said server;

wherein said server is configured to;

access beef marketing program requirements from said central database;

compare said collected information with said program requirements of said selected beef marketing program; and

provide said user with livestock purchase decision information which assists said user to purchase said livestock and allows said user to ensure that said purchased livestock complies with said selected beef marketing program.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said server is further configured to:

enable a seller to provide product information about at least one of a product and a service to said central database.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said server is further configured to:

provide said user with content related to said livestock operation.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said server is further configured to:

automatically assist said user to sell at least one of a product and a service to another user.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said server is further configured to:

enable said user to purchase at least one animal of a plurality of animals from an auction.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said server is further configured to:

automatically obtain bids on said at least one animal.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said server is further configured to:

provide said user with access to information relating to said animal.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein said server is further configured to:

provide said user with video data relating to said auction.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein said server is further configured to:

provide said user with audio data relating to said auction.

25. A method of assisting a user in selling livestock related to a selected beef marketing program based on collected information in a central database, said method comprising:

accessing beef marketing program requirements from said central database;

comparing said collected information with said program requirements of said selected beef marketing program; and

providing said user with livestock sale decision information which assists said user to sell said livestock and allows said user to ensure that said livestock complies with said selected beef marketing program.