Cattle management method and system

• US 6,135,055 A
• Filed: 01/07/1999
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MWI Veterinary Supply Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Micro Beef Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Pratt, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, ELIZABETH ANNE
• Application Number:
  US09/227,171
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 119/51.02, 119/502, 119/511, 119/846, 119/841, 119/842, 348/89, 452/52, 452/53
• US Class Current: 119/51.02
• 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 managing cattle, comprising:

identifying an animal with an identifying device to distinguish it from every other animal in a group, and recording the animal'"'"'s identification;

recording at least three physical characteristics of the identified animal, including weight, an external dimension, and an internal tissue characteristic, and matching the recorded characteristics taken with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;

feeding the identified animal with a group of other animals; and

selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the physical characteristics.

2. The method according to claim 1 where the animal'"'"'s identification is recorded using an information, storage and processing device.

3. The method according to claim 2 where the information, storage and processing device is a computer.

4. The method according to claim 1 where one of the recorded physical characteristics is a health condition.

5. The method according to claim 1 where one of the recorded physical characteristics is measured.

6. The method according to claim 1 and further including the step of projecting for the identified animal a limit or optimum target condition.

7. The method according to claim 6 and further comprising recording the limit or target condition.

8. The method according to claim 7 where the recorded limit or target condition is matched with the recorded identification for the animal.

9. The method according to claim 6 and further comprising projecting an estimated time or date required for the identified animal to achieve the limit or target condition while being fed in the feedlot using the physical characteristics.

10. The method according to claim 9 and further comprising recording the estimated time or date, and matching the recorded time or date with the recorded identification of the animal.

11. The method according to claim 9 and further including selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the estimated time or date.

12. The method according to claim 1 where the characteristics are measured at a measuring station remote from a location where the animal is fed.

13. The method according to claim 12 where the measuring station comprises a chute having at least one measuring substation separated by a gate, with a downstream end of the chute communicating with sorting pens.

14. The method according to claim 13 where the identified animal is directed into one of the sorting pens after being measured for weight, external dimension and internal tissue characteristic.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein the chute has plural measuring substations.

16. The method according to claim 1 where recording occurs before feeding.

17. The method according to claim 1 where recording occurs after feeding.

18. The method according to claim 1 further comprising multiple recording steps and a feeding step between two successive recording steps.

19. The method according to claim 18 where at least one of the multiple recordings is a weight recording.

20. The method according to claim 1 where recording is performed at a measuring station remote from a location where the animal is fed.

21. The method according to claim 1 including selecting a growth promotant for the identified animal.

22. The method according to claim 21 and further comprising:

recording the growth promotant selected; and

matching the recorded growth promotant with the animal'"'"'s identification.

23. The method according to claim 21 where the growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of feed additive growth promotants, individual animal treatment growth promotants, and mixtures thereof.

24. The method according to claim 23 where the feed additive growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of ionophores, β

agonists, and mixtures thereof.

25. The method according to claim 23 where the individual growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of growth hormones, and mixtures thereof.

26. The method according to claim 1 where an electronic identifying device is attached to the animal that distinguishes it from every other animal in the group.

27. The method according to claim 1 and further including:

calculating an amount of feed consumption for the identified animal using a feed allocation formula that takes into account an animal'"'"'s weight measurement;

recording calculated consumption for the animal; and

matching calculated consumption with the recorded identification of the animal.

28. The method according to claim 27 where calculating an amount of feed consumption includes calculating rate of weight gain for the identified animal.

29. The method according to claim 27 where calculating feed consumption includes calculating energy requirements for the identified animal and an energy value of the feed.

30. The method according to claim 1 including recording identification of the animal following shipment of the animal to a slaughter facility and comparing identification at the feedlot with the identification at the slaughter facility.

31. A method for managing cattle in large feedlots for optimum beef production comprising:

while an animal is in a feedlot, identifying the animal by an identifying device attached to the animal that distinguishes it from every other animal in the feedlot;

recording the animal'"'"'s identification;

measuring and recording at least two physical characteristics of the identified animal while it is in the feedlot, such measurements including a weight measurement and an internal tissue characteristic measurement, and matching the recorded measurements taken with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;

feeding the identified and measured animal with a group of other animals in a feed pen in the feedlot for a feeding period;

projecting for the identified animal a projected limit or projected optimum target condition;

recording the projected limit or target condition and matching a recorded limit or target condition with the recorded identification for the animal;

calculating and recording an estimated time or date required for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or target condition while being fed in the feedlot using data for the identified animal that includes at least the recorded measurements of the two physical characteristics;

matching the recorded time or date with the recorded identification of the animal; and

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

32. The method according to claim 31 where, after selecting the identified animal for further processing, the method comprises:

calculating the amount of feed consumption for the identified animal using a feed allocation formula that takes into account the animal'"'"'s two physical characteristics;

recording a calculated consumption; and

matching the recorded consumption with the recorded identification of the animal.

33. The method according to claim 32 where calculation of feed consumption includes a calculation of rate of weight gain for the identified animal.

34. The method according to claim 33 where calculation of feed consumption includes a calculation of energy requirements for the identified animal and an energy value of the feed.

35. The method according to claim 34 and further including projecting for the identified animal a projected limit or projected optimum target condition.

36. The method according to claim 35 and further comprising recording the projected limit or target condition and matching the recorded target condition with the recorded identification for the animal using an information storage and processing device.

37. The method according to claim 33 and further comprising calculating and recording an estimated time or date required for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or projected target condition while being fed in the feedlot using at least the recorded measurements of the two physical characteristics, and matching the recorded time or date with the recorded identification of the animal.

38. The method according to claim 37 further comprising selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the estimated time or date.

39. The method according to claim 38 and further comprising selecting a growth promotant for the identified animal based at least in part on the recorded measurements.

40. The method according to claim 39 and further comprising recording the identification of the growth promotant and matching recorded growth promotant with the animal'"'"'s identification.

41. The method according to claim 39 where the growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of feed additive growth promotants, individual animal treatment growth promotants, and mixtures thereof.

42. The method according to claim 41 where the growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of feed additive growth promotants, individual animal treatment growth promotants, and mixtures thereof.

43. The method according to claim 42 where the feed additive growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of ionophores, β

agonists, and mixtures thereof.

44. The method according to claim 42 where the individual animal treatment growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of growth hormones, and mixtures thereof.

45. A method for managing cattle in large feedlots for optimum beef production comprising:

while an animal is in a feedlot, identifying the animal by an identifying device attached to the animal that distinguishes it from every other animal in the feedlot;

recording the animal'"'"'s identification;

measuring and recording at least two physical characteristics of the identified animal while it is in the feedlot, such measurements including a weight measurement and an external dimension, and matching the recorded measurements taken with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;

feeding the identified and measured animal with a group of other animals in a feed pen in the feedlot for a feeding period;

projecting for the identified animal a projected limit or projected optimum target condition;

recording the projected limit or target condition and matching the recorded target condition with the recorded identification for the animal;

calculating and recording an estimated time or date required for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or target condition while being fed in the feedlot using data for the identified animal that includes at least the recorded measurements of the two physical characteristics, and matching the recorded time or date with the recorded identification of the animal; and

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

46. The method according to claim 45 where, after selecting the identified animal for further processing, the method further comprises:

calculating the amount of feed consumption for the identified animal using a feed allocation formula that takes into account the animal'"'"'s two physical characteristics;

recording a calculated feed consumption; and

matching recorded feed consumption with the recorded identification of the animal.

47. The method according to claim 46 where calculating feed consumption includes calculating a rate of weight gain for the identified animal.

48. The method according to claim 46 where calculating a feed consumption includes calculating energy requirements for the identified animal and an energy value of the feed.

49. The method according to claim 48 and further including recording for the identified animal a projected limit or projected optimum target condition and matching the recorded target condition with the recorded identification for the animal.

50. The method according to claim 45 and further comprising:

selecting a growth promotant for the identified animal based at least in part on the recorded measurements;

recording the identification of the growth promotant; and

matching the recorded growth promotant with the animal'"'"'s identification.

51. The method according to claim 50 where the growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of feed additive growth promotants, individual animal treatment growth promotants, and mixtures thereof.

52. The method according to claim 51 where the feed additive growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of ionophores, β

agonists, and mixtures thereof.

53. The method according to claim 51 where the individual animal treatment growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of growth hormones, and mixtures thereof.

54. A method for managing cattle in feedlots, comprising:

after arrival of an animal in the feedlot, identifying the animal through an identifying device attached to the animal that distinguishes the animal from every other animal in the feedlot;

recording the animal'"'"'s identification using an information storage and processing device;

measuring and recording at least a weight measurement;

matching the recorded weight measurement, and any other measurements taken, with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;

feeding the identified and measured animal with a group of other animals in a pen for a feeding period;

measuring a second weight measurement;

matching the recorded second weight measurement, and any other recorded measurements, with the identified animal'"'"'s recorded identification and with the recorded weight measurement and any other measurements;

recording a projected limit or projected optimum target condition for the identified animal;

matching a recorded limit or condition with the recorded identification for the animal;

calculating and recording an estimated time or date required for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or target condition using data for the identified animal that includes at least measurement data obtained from the first and subsequent measuring steps, and matching the recorded time or date with the recorded identification of the animal;

selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the estimated time or date; and

selecting a growth promotant for the identified animal based at least in part on the recorded measurements and recording the identification of the growth promotant and matching a recorded growth promotant with the animal'"'"'s identification.

55. The method according to claim 54 where the growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of feed additive growth promotants, individual animal treatment growth promotants, and mixtures thereof.

56. The method according to claim 55 where the feed additive growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of ionophores, β

agonists, and mixtures thereof.

57. The method according to claim 55 where the individual animal treatment growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of growth hormones, and mixtures thereof.

58. The method according to claim 54 where the growth promotant selected for the identified animal is administered to the animal at a location remote from a feeding pen after measuring at least a weight measurement for the animal.

59. The method according to claim 54 including, during the feeding period:

calculating feed consumption for the identified animal using a feed allocation formula that takes into account the animal'"'"'s weight measurement;

recording the calculated consumption; and

matching the recorded consumption with the recorded identification of the animal.

60. The method according to claim 59 where calculating feed consumption includes calculating rate of weight gain for the identified animal.

61. The method according to claim 59 where calculating feed consumption includes calculating energy requirements for the identified animal and an energy value of the feed.

62. The method according to claim 54 where the growth promotant selected for the identified animal is administered to the animal at a location remote from a feeding pen after the measurement step but prior to moving the animal from the remote location to a feeding pen.

63. The method according to claim 54 and further comprising:

recording identification of the animal prior to shipment to a slaughter facility; and

recording the identification of the animal shipped after arrival at the slaughter facility.

64. The method according to claim 63 where identification of the animal at the feedlot prior to shipment and identification of the animal after arrival at the slaughter facility are compared for a match.

65. The method according to claim 63 and including recording carcass information from the slaughter facility as a part of a record for the identified animal.

66. A method for managing cattle in large feedlots for optimum beef production, comprising:

after arrival of an animal in the feedlot, identifying the animal through an identifying device attached to the animal that distinguishes the animal from every other animal in the feedlot;

recording the animal'"'"'s identification using an information storage and processing device;

in a first measuring step, measuring and recording at least one physical characteristic of the identified animal, such measurement including a first weight measurement;

matching the recorded first weight measurement, and any other measurements taken, with an animal'"'"'s recorded identification;

feeding the identified and measured animal with a group of other animals for a feeding period;

in a subsequent measuring step, measuring at least one physical characteristic of the identified animal including a second weight measurement;

matching a recorded second weight measurement, and any other recorded measurements, with the identified animal'"'"'s recorded identification and with the first recorded weight measurement and any other first measurements;

projecting a projected limit or projected optimum target condition for the identified animal;

recording the projected limit or projected target condition;

matching recorded condition with recorded identification for the animal;

calculating and recording estimated time or date required for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or target condition using data for the identified animal that includes at least measurement data obtained from the first and subsequent measuring steps, and matching the recorded time or date with the recorded identification of the animal;

selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the estimated time or date; and

recording the identification of the animal following shipment of the animal to a slaughter facility and comparing the identification at the feedlot with the identification at the slaughter facility.

67. A method for managing cattle in large feedlots for optimum beef production comprising:

while an animal is in a feedlot, identifying the animal by an electronic identifying device attached to the animal that distinguishes it from every other animal in the feedlot, and recording the animal'"'"'s identification;

recording at least three physical characteristics of the identified animal while it is in the feedlot, such measurements including a weight measurement, an external dimension measurement, and an internal tissue characteristic measurement;

matching recorded measurements taken with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;

feeding the identified and measured animal with a group of other animals in a feed pen in the feedlot for a feeding period;

recording for the identified animal a projected limit or optimum target condition and matching the recorded limit or target condition with the recorded identification for the animal;

recording an estimated time or date required for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or target condition while being fed in the feedlot based at least on the physical characteristics, and matching recorded time or date with recorded identification of the animal;

selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the estimated time or date; and

recording the identification of the animal prior to shipment to a slaughter facility.

68. The method according to claim 67 where identification of the animal shipped is recorded at the slaughter facility.

69. The method according to claim 68 where identification of the animal at the feedlot prior to shipment and identification of the animal after arrival at the slaughter facility are compared for a match.

70. A method for managing cattle in large feedlots for optimum beef production comprising:

while an animal is in a feedlot, identifying the animal by an identifying device attached to the animal that distinguishes it from every other animal in the feedlot, and recording the animal'"'"'s identification;

recording at least two physical characteristics of the identified animal while it is in the feedlot, such measurements including a weight measurement and an internal tissue characteristic measurement, and matching the recorded measurements taken with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;

feeding the identified and measured animal with a group of other animals in a feed pen in the feedlot for a feeding period;

recording for the identified animal a projected limit or optimum target condition and matching the recorded limit or target condition with the recorded identification for the animal;

recording an estimated time or date required for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or target condition while being fed in the feedlot, using data for the identified animal that includes at least the recorded measurements of the two physical characteristics, and matching the recorded time with the recorded identification of the animal;

selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the estimated time or date; and

recording the identification of the animal prior to shipment from the feedlot to a slaughter facility, recording the identification of the animal after arrival at a slaughter facility and comparing the identification at both the feedlot and a slaughter facility.

71. The method according to claim 70 including recording carcass information from the slaughter facility as a part of a record for the identified animal.

72. The method according to claim 70 and further comprising:

during the feeding period, calculating the amount of feed consumption for the identified animal using a feed allocation formula that takes into account the animal'"'"'s weight measurement;

recording calculated consumption; and

matching recorded consumption with recorded identification of the animal.

73. The method according to claim 72 where calculating feed consumption includes calculating rate of weight gain for the identified animal.

74. The method according to claim 73 where calculating feed consumption includes calculating energy requirements for the identified animal and an energy value of the feed.

75. The method according to claim 70 where further processing includes:

selecting a growth promotant for the identified animal based at least in part on the recorded measurements;

recording identification of the growth promotant; and

matching recorded growth promotant with the animal'"'"'s identification.

76. The method according to claim 75 where the growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of feed additive growth promotants, individual animal treatment growth promotants, and mixtures thereof.

77. The method according to claim 76 where the feed additive growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of ionophores, β

agonists, and mixtures thereof.

78. The method according to claim 76 where the individual animal treatment growth promotant is selected from the group consisting of growth hormones, and mixtures thereof.

79. The method according to claim 75 where the growth promotant selected for the identified animal is administered to the animal at a location remote from a feeding pen after measuring but prior to moving the animal from the remote location to a feeding pen.

80. The method according to claim 70 where the recording of the identification of the animal prior to shipment is performed immediately prior to shipment in a single file chute remote from the feeding pen.

81. A method for managing cattle in large feedlots for optimum beef production, comprising:

after arrival of an animal in the feedlot, identifying the animal through an identifying device attached to the animal that distinguishes the animal from every other animal in the feedlot, and recording the animal'"'"'s identification;

in a first measuring step, measuring and recording at least one physical characteristic of the identified animal, such measurement including a first weight measurement, and matching the recorded first weight measurement, and any other measurements taken, with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;

feeding the identified and measured animal with a group of other animals in a pen for a feeding period;

in a subsequent measuring step, recording at least one physical characteristic of the identified animal including a second weight measurement, and matching recorded second weight measurement, and any other recorded measurements, with the identified animal'"'"'s recorded identification and with the first recorded weight measurement and any other first measurements;

recording for the identified animal its health condition and treatment selected while in the feedlot and matching recorded condition and treatment with recorded identification for the animal; and

selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the weight measurement and the health condition or the treatment selected.

82. The method according to claim 81 where a rate of gain is calculated from at least the first and second weight measurements.

83. The method according to claim 81 and further comprising:

calculating a rate of gain from at least the first and second weight measurements; and

where selection for further processing is based at least in part on recorded cost of the treatment and the recorded cost of gain of the identified animal.

84. A method for managing cattle in large feedlots for optimum beef production comprising:

while an animal is in a feedlot, identifying the animal by an identifying device attached to the animal that distinguishes it from every other animal in the feedlot, and recording the animal'"'"'s identification;

measuring and recording at least three physical characteristics of the identified animal while it is in the feedlot, such measurements including a weight measurement, an external dimension measurement, and an internal tissue characteristic measurement, and matching recorded measurements taken with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;

feeding the identified and measured animal with a group of other animals in a feed pen in the feedlot for a feeding period;

recording for the identified animal its health condition and treatment selected while in the feedlot and matching recorded condition and treatment with recorded identification for the animal; and

selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the weight measurement and the health condition or the treatment selected.

85. A method for managing cattle in large feedlots for optimum beef production comprising:

while an animal is in a feedlot, identifying the animal by an identifying device attached to the animal that distinguishes it from every other animal in the feedlot, and recording the animal'"'"'s identification;

measuring and recording at least two physical characteristics of the identified animal while it is in the feedlot, such measurements including a weight measurement and an internal tissue characteristic measurement, and matching recorded measurements taken with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;

feeding the identified and measured animal with a group of other animals in a feed pen in the feedlot for a feeding period;

recording for the identified animal its health condition and treatment selected while in the feedlot and matching the recorded condition and treatment with the recorded identification for the animal; and

selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the weight measurement and health condition or treatment selected.

86. A method for managing cattle in large feedlots for optimum beef production comprising:

while an animal is in a feedlot, identifying the animal by an identifying device attached to the animal that distinguishes it from every other animal in the feedlot, and recording the animal'"'"'s identification;

measuring and recording at least two physical characteristics of the identified animal while it is in the feedlot, such measurements including a weight measurement and an external dimension measurement and matching recorded measurements taken with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;

feeding the identified and measured animal with a group of other animals in a feed pen in the feedlot for a feeding period;

recording for the identified animal its health condition and treatment selected while in the feedlot and matching recorded condition and treatment with recorded identification for the animal; and

selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the weight measurement and health condition or treatment selected.

87. A method for managing cattle in large feedlots for optimum beef production comprising:

while an animal is in a feedlot, identifying the animal by an identifying device attached to the animal that distinguishes it from every other animal in the feedlot, and recording the animal'"'"'s identification,

measuring and recording at least three physical characteristics of the identified animal while it is in the feedlot, such measurements including a weight measurement, an external dimension measurement, and an internal tissue characteristic measurement, and matching recorded measurements taken with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;

feeding the identified and measured animal with a group of other animals in a feed pen in the feedlot for a feeding period;

recording for the identified animal a projected limit or optimum target condition and matching the recorded target condition with the recorded identification for the animal;

calculating and recording an estimated time or date required for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or target condition while being fed in the feedlot, using data for the identified animal that includes at least the recorded measurements of the three physical characteristics, and matching recorded time with recorded identification of the animal; and

selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the projected limit or target condition of one or more carcass characteristics and such carcass characteristic is calculated at least in part from one or more live animal measured characteristics of the identified animal.

88. A method for managing cattle in large feedlots for optimum beef production, comprising:

after arrival of an animal in the feedlot, identifying the animal through an identifying device attached to the animal that distinguishes the animal from every other animal in the feedlot, and recording the animal'"'"'s identification;

in a first measuring step, measuring and recording at least one physical characteristic of the identified animal, such measurement including a first weight measurement, and matching the recorded first weight measurement, and any other measurements taken, with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;

feeding the identified and measured animal with a group of other animals in a pen for a feeding period;

in a subsequent measuring step, measuring at least one physical characteristic of the identified animal including a second weight measurement, and matching the recorded second weight measurement, and any other recorded measurements, with the identified animal'"'"'s recorded identification and with the first recorded weight measurement and any other first measurements;

recording for the identified animal a projected limit or projected optimum target condition for the identified animal and matching recorded condition with recorded identification for the animal;

calculating and recording an estimated time or date required for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or target condition using data for the identified animal that includes at least measurement data obtained from the first and subsequent measuring steps, and matching the recorded time or date with the recorded identification of the animal; and

selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the projected limit or target condition of one or more carcass characteristics and such carcass characteristic is calculated at least in part from one or more live animal measured characteristics of the identified animal.

89. The method according to claim 88 where carcass rate of gain is calculated at least in part using a measured live animal characteristic of the identified animal.

90. The method according to claim 89 where carcass cost of gain is calculated at least in part using a measured live animal characteristic of the identified animal.

91. A method for managing cattle in large feedlots for optimum beef production, comprising:

after arrival of an animal in the feedlot, identifying the animal through an identifying device attached to the animal that distinguishes the animal from every other animal in the feedlot, and recording the animal'"'"'s identification;

in a first measuring step, measuring and recording at least one physical characteristic of the identified animal, such measurement including a first weight measurement, and matching the recorded first weight measurement, and any other measurements taken, with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;

feeding the identified and measured animal with a group of other animals in a pen for a feeding period;

in a subsequent measuring step, measuring at least one physical characteristic of the identified animal including a second weight measurement, and matching the recorded second weight measurement, and any other recorded measurements, with the identified animal'"'"'s recorded identification and with the first recorded weight measurement and any other first measurements;

recording for the identified animal a projected limit or projected optimum target condition for the identified animal and matching recorded condition with recorded identification for the animal;

calculating and recording an estimated time or date required for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or projected target condition using data for the identified animal that includes at least measurement data obtained from the first and subsequent measuring steps, and matching the recorded time or date with the recorded identification of the animal;

selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the projected target limit or condition of one or more carcass characteristics and such carcass characteristic is calculated at least in part from one or more live animal measured characteristics of the identified animal; and

where the carcass rate of gain is calculated at least in part using a measured live animal characteristic of the identified animal.