CATTLE MANAGEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A system for managing animals for commercial food production, comprising:
- an identification device for identifying an individual animal from other animals in a group of animals;
a measurement location separate from a feeding location;
a feedlot business systems (FBS) computer for storing identification information for the individual animal to provide a recorded identification and for recording at least two physical characteristics in a database, including weight, and for matching the recorded identification with the physical characteristics, the FBS computer configured to store or access the database;
a data entry device for entering into the FBS computer animal identification information and initial characteristics prior to a feeding period and subsequent characteristics following a feeding period during which the identified individual animal is fed with a feed group of animals; and
a data output device in communication with the FBS computer, the FBS computer being operable to project for the identified animal a limit or target condition, projecting an estimated time or date for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or target condition, and selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the physical, initial and/or subsequent characteristics.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A highly automated method and system for providing individual animal electronic identification, measurement and value based management of cattle in a large cattle feedlot. Through the use of (1) a computer system integrated with (2) automatic individual animal identification (3) multiple measurement and remeasurement systems with automatic data input and (4) a cattle handling and sorting system, animals are individually (a) identified and (b) measured by weight, external dimensions and characteristics of internal body tissue. With this information together with animal physiological characteristics and historical data, the computer system calculates the optimum (c) slaughter weight, (d) economic end point and (e) marketing date for shipment to a packing plant. After measurement, individual animals are (f) sorted by direction of the computer in response to calculations from the measurements. The computer system also calculates from individual animal data and other data (g) each animal'"'"'s pro rata share of total feed intake for the animal'"'"'s feed group. The computer system (h) stores individual animal measurement, performance and location data, which is used by management to (i) select animals for shipment from the feedlot for slaughter at the optimum time. Following an animal'"'"'s shipment to a slaughter facility, its identification in the computer system is used to (j) correlate the live animal physical characteristics and performance data to the measured and evaluated carcass characteristics data obtained during the slaughter process and (k) build a data base to more accurately identify and measure value-based characteristics in subsequent animals produced and fed for more effective value-based selection and management of those animals.
100 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for managing animals for commercial food production, comprising:
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an identification device for identifying an individual animal from other animals in a group of animals; a measurement location separate from a feeding location; a feedlot business systems (FBS) computer for storing identification information for the individual animal to provide a recorded identification and for recording at least two physical characteristics in a database, including weight, and for matching the recorded identification with the physical characteristics, the FBS computer configured to store or access the database; a data entry device for entering into the FBS computer animal identification information and initial characteristics prior to a feeding period and subsequent characteristics following a feeding period during which the identified individual animal is fed with a feed group of animals; and a data output device in communication with the FBS computer, the FBS computer being operable to project for the identified animal a limit or target condition, projecting an estimated time or date for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or target condition, and selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the physical, initial and/or subsequent characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for managing animals for commercial food production, comprising:
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identifying an animal with an identifying device to distinguish it from every other animal in a group; entering the animal'"'"'s identification in a feedlot business systems (FBS) computer, where the FBS computer is configured to store or access a database; measuring the identified animal at a measuring location remote from a feeding location in a first measuring step; recording at least two physical characteristics of the identified animal, including weight, in the FBS computer and matching these first recorded characteristics with the animal'"'"'s identification; feeding the identified animal with a feed group of animals in a feed pen for a feeding period; entering in the FBS computer subsequent animal characteristics following the feeding period; and selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the physical and/or subsequent animal characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for managing cattle, comprising:
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identifying an animal with an identifying device to distinguish it from every other animal in a group; entering the animal'"'"'s identification in a feedlot business systems (FBS) computer, wherein the FBS computer includes a database; measuring the identified animal at a location remote from a feeding location; recording at least two physical characteristics of the identified animal, including weight, in the FBS computer and matching the recorded characteristics with the animal'"'"'s identification; feeding the identified animal with a group of other animals; transmitting data from a computerized animal drug inventory control and animal health history and drug treatment system, a computerized feed additive delivery system, a computerized bunk reader system, or combinations thereof, to the FBS computer; and selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the physical characteristics.
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Specification