CATTLE MANAGEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20090307111A1
• Filed: 04/02/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MWI Veterinary Supply Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Micro Beef Technologies Ltd (MWI Veterinary Supply Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pratt, William C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,748,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0023 Sorting gates
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0209 Feeding pens for pigs or cattle
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/02 Automatic devices automatic identification devices for stock A01K11/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/10 Tax strategies
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

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.

Claims

1. A method for tracking animals destined for commercial food production, comprising:

creating a computer system capable of storing individual animal identification and location information; and

using the computer system to identify animals and determine location information for an animal as it moves from a first location to a second location.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising determining from data in the computer system locations occupied by an initially identified animal.

3. The method according to claim 2 comprising identifying in the computer system a subsequently identified animal which shared a location with the initially identified animal.

4. The method according to claim 3 comprising entering into the computer system data relating to individual animals that have been commingled by mixing from different groups of animals and correlating data with the identification of individual animals in the computer system.

5. The method according to claim 3 further comprising identifying in the computer system all animals that shared a location with the initially identified animal.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising initially recording at least two characteristics of identified animals, including a measured weight, and matching in the computer the recorded characteristics with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising:

feeding identified animals with a group of other animals;

storing in the computer for the identified animal a limit or condition;

making a computer projection of an estimated time or date for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or condition based at least in part on the characteristics; and

selecting identified animals for further processing based at least in part on the estimated time or date.

8. The method according to claim 6 further comprising recording at least two characteristics of identified animals at least a first time and at least a second time, the two characteristics including a measured weight, and matching in the computer the recorded characteristics with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification.

9. At least one computer readable medium having stored thereon program instructions executable on a computing device to perform the method of claim 1.