Cattle management method and system
First Claim
1. A method of individual animal management in which groups of animals are normally retained and fed in pens to prepare them for slaughter comprising:
- entering into and storing in a computer system characteristics relating to a group of animals;
directing animals to a measurement location;
directing said group of animals at the measurement location, through a one-way single-file chute which has an animal station including gates for separating one animal at-a-time;
monitoring the location of each animal within the single-file chute by the computer system in communication with animal position sensing devices;
measuring various individual animals separated from other animals in a station computer to record various measured characteristics, including at least weight;
(a) characteristics (b) measured external animal dimensions and (c) measured the internal animal tissue dimensions or texture, the data entry means being operable without requiring operator visual measurement interpretation and keyboard measurement entry;
operating gates in the single-file chute by the computer system in response to computer monitoring of animal locations by position sensor and completion of a measurement at the location so that animals may move forward from station to station at the appropriate time;
calculating in the computer system from the characteristics data and in response to entry of the individual measurements, a projected optimum point (weight/date/EEP) of marketing for slaughter for each individual animal;
attaching to each animal before exiting the chute, an identification device enabling the computer system to identify each animal and distinguish it from every other animal in the feedlot;
entering into the computer the identification of each animal from the ID for that animal;
correlating the characteristics data, measurement data and projection data for each animal with its ID in the computer system;
directing the measured animals from the chute and measurement location to one or more feed pens, and there feeding a group of animals for a given feeding period;
calculating in the computer system the projected rate of gain for each measured animal from at least the said characteristics data, individual animal measurement data, ration data, and health care or growth promotion products data;
calculating a projected feed intake for each animal from at least its measured weight;
for a first feeding period, calculating in the computer system the production cost for allocation to each animal in the group utilizing at least the projected feed intake for each animal, totaling the projected feed intake for all the animals in the group, calculating the pro rata share for each animal in the group, comparing that total to the actual amount fed to those animals in the group, and allocating the actual amount fed to the group on the pro rata basis to each animal in the group and storing that amount in the computer;
remeasuring individually at least some of the group of animals previously measured utilizing the computer system to record and store at least weight;
calculating in the computer system from data (group and individual) and in response to each animal'"'"'s measurements and remeasurements a projected optimum point of marketing for slaughter for each remeasured animal;
directing each remeasured animal from the measurement location to one or more feed pens for additional feeding;
calculating in the computer system the projected feed intake for each animal from at least individual remeasured weight;
for a second feeding period calculating in a computer the production cost for allocation to an individual animal utilizing at least the projected feed intake by individual animal, totaling the projected feed intake for all the animals in a group, calculating the pro rata share of each animal, comparing that total to the actual amount fed to those animals and allocating the actual amount fed on the pro rata basis to each animal and storing that amount in the computer;
selecting for removal individual animals or groups from the feedlot for shipment to slaughter utilizing the group and individual projection data;
reading the identification device on each animal at the slaughter plant and matching the identification of the live animal to the corresponding animal carcass identity;
collecting carcass data characteristics of each animal following its slaughter;
matching the carcass data characteristics to the live animal in the computer system and storing in the system utilizing the individual animal identification;
storing in the computer system by individual animal identification an animal'"'"'s live growth performance data and carcass data;
calculating by computer adjusted formulas for improving over time the accuracy of projecting of optimum slaughter dates of future animals from the animal or group historical data, individual animal live measurement data, and the individual animal growth performance data and carcass data.
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0 Petitions
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.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of individual animal management in which groups of animals are normally retained and fed in pens to prepare them for slaughter comprising:
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entering into and storing in a computer system characteristics relating to a group of animals;
directing animals to a measurement location;
directing said group of animals at the measurement location, through a one-way single-file chute which has an animal station including gates for separating one animal at-a-time;
monitoring the location of each animal within the single-file chute by the computer system in communication with animal position sensing devices;
measuring various individual animals separated from other animals in a station computer to record various measured characteristics, including at least weight;
(a) characteristics (b) measured external animal dimensions and (c) measured the internal animal tissue dimensions or texture, the data entry means being operable without requiring operator visual measurement interpretation and keyboard measurement entry;
operating gates in the single-file chute by the computer system in response to computer monitoring of animal locations by position sensor and completion of a measurement at the location so that animals may move forward from station to station at the appropriate time;
calculating in the computer system from the characteristics data and in response to entry of the individual measurements, a projected optimum point (weight/date/EEP) of marketing for slaughter for each individual animal;
attaching to each animal before exiting the chute, an identification device enabling the computer system to identify each animal and distinguish it from every other animal in the feedlot;
entering into the computer the identification of each animal from the ID for that animal;
correlating the characteristics data, measurement data and projection data for each animal with its ID in the computer system;
directing the measured animals from the chute and measurement location to one or more feed pens, and there feeding a group of animals for a given feeding period;
calculating in the computer system the projected rate of gain for each measured animal from at least the said characteristics data, individual animal measurement data, ration data, and health care or growth promotion products data;
calculating a projected feed intake for each animal from at least its measured weight;
for a first feeding period, calculating in the computer system the production cost for allocation to each animal in the group utilizing at least the projected feed intake for each animal, totaling the projected feed intake for all the animals in the group, calculating the pro rata share for each animal in the group, comparing that total to the actual amount fed to those animals in the group, and allocating the actual amount fed to the group on the pro rata basis to each animal in the group and storing that amount in the computer;
remeasuring individually at least some of the group of animals previously measured utilizing the computer system to record and store at least weight;
calculating in the computer system from data (group and individual) and in response to each animal'"'"'s measurements and remeasurements a projected optimum point of marketing for slaughter for each remeasured animal;
directing each remeasured animal from the measurement location to one or more feed pens for additional feeding;
calculating in the computer system the projected feed intake for each animal from at least individual remeasured weight;
for a second feeding period calculating in a computer the production cost for allocation to an individual animal utilizing at least the projected feed intake by individual animal, totaling the projected feed intake for all the animals in a group, calculating the pro rata share of each animal, comparing that total to the actual amount fed to those animals and allocating the actual amount fed on the pro rata basis to each animal and storing that amount in the computer;
selecting for removal individual animals or groups from the feedlot for shipment to slaughter utilizing the group and individual projection data;
reading the identification device on each animal at the slaughter plant and matching the identification of the live animal to the corresponding animal carcass identity;
collecting carcass data characteristics of each animal following its slaughter;
matching the carcass data characteristics to the live animal in the computer system and storing in the system utilizing the individual animal identification;
storing in the computer system by individual animal identification an animal'"'"'s live growth performance data and carcass data;
calculating by computer adjusted formulas for improving over time the accuracy of projecting of optimum slaughter dates of future animals from the animal or group historical data, individual animal live measurement data, and the individual animal growth performance data and carcass data.
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2. A method of individual animal value management in a livestock feedlot in which groups of animals are normally retained and fed in pens to prepare them for slaughter comprising:
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entering into and storing in a computer system historical information relating to a group of animals;
directing animals to a measurement and sorting location;
directing said group of animals at the measurement and sorting location, through a one-way single-file chute which has multiple animal holding stations including gates for holding one animal at-a-time in each station;
monitoring the location of each animal within the single-file chute by the computer system in communication with animal position sensing devices;
at different holding stations within the chute, measuring various individual animals utilizing the computer communicating with measurement devices to record various measured characteristics, including at least (a) weight characteristics (b) measured external animal dimensions and (c) measured internal animal the tissue dimensions or texture, the data entry means being operable without requiring operator visual measurement interpretation and keyboard measurement entry;
operating gates in the single-file chute by the computer system in response to computer monitoring of animal locations by position sensor and completion of a measurement at the location so that animals may move forward from station to station at the appropriate time;
calculating in the computer system from the historical data and in response to entry of the individual measurements, a projected optimum date of marketing for slaughter for each individual animal;
attaching to each animal before exiting the chute, an electronic identification device (EID) enabling the computer system to identify each animal and distinguish it from every other animal in the feedlot;
entering into the computer the identification of each animal from the EID for that animal;
correlating the historical data, measurement data and projection data for each animal with its EID in the computer system;
directing the measured animals from the chute and measurement and sorting location to one or more feed pens, and there feeding a group of animals for a given feeding period;
calculating in the computer system the projected rate of gain for each measured animal from the said historical and individual animal measurement data;
calculating a projected feed intake for each animal from its measured weight and projected rate of gain;
for a first feeding period, calculating in the computer system the production cost for allocation to each animal in the group utilizing the projected feed intake for each animal, totaling the projected feed intake for all the animals in the group, calculating the pro rata share for each animal in the group, comparing that total to the actual amount fed to those animals in the group, and allocating the actual amount fed to the group on the pro rata basis to each animal in the group and storing that amount in the computer for billing to the animal owner;
removing at least some of the group of animals previously measured from their feed pen and remeasuring those animals individually utilizing the computer system to communicate with the measuring devices to measure, record and store at least weight, (a) in the single-file chute and (b) measured internal animal tissue characteristics (for dimensions or texture);
calculating in the computer system from historical data (group and individual) and in response to each animal'"'"'s measurements and remeasurements a projected optimum date of marketing for slaughter for each remeasured animal;
sorting each remeasured animal into one of multiple sort groups based on a selected animal characteristic as determined at least in part by measure and recorded data for each animal;
directing each remeasured and sorted animal from the measurement and sorting location to one or more feed pens according to its sort group for additional feeding;
calculating in the computer system the projected feed intake for each sorted animal from at least projected individual weight and gain;
for a second feeding period calculating in a computer the production cost for allocation to an individual animal utilizing the projected feed intake by individual animal, totaling the projected feed intake for all the animals in a group, calculating the pro rata share of each animal, comparing that total to the actual amount fed to those animals and allocating the actual amount fed on the pro rata basis to each animal and storing that amount in the computer;
selecting for removal and removing individual animals or groups from the feedlot for shipment to slaughter utilizing the group and individual projection data;
reading the electronic identification device on each animal at the slaughter plane and in the computer system matching the electronic identification number of the live animal to the corresponding animal carcass identity;
collecting carcass data characteristics of each animal following its slaughter;
matching the carcass data characteristics to the live animal in the computer system and storing the data in the system utilizing the individual animal electronic identification;
storing in the computer system by individual animal electronic identification an animal'"'"'s live measurement data, growth performance data an carcass data;
calculating by computer adjusted formulas for improving over time the accuracy of projecting of optimum slaughter dates of future animals from the animal or group historical data, individual animal live measurement data, and the individual animal growth performance data and carcass data.
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3. A method for managing cattle, comprising:
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identifying an animal, utilizing an identifying device, and a computer to distinguish it from every other animal in a group, and recording the animal'"'"'s identification in the computer;
recording at least three characteristics of the identified animal, including weight, and matching the recorded characteristics with the animals recorded identification;
feeding the identified animal with a group of other animals;
selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the characteristics;
recording and storing in the computer data by individual animal; and
enabling such data to be used by a cattle producer for making a management decision concerning genetic change. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
determining, tracking and projecting individual animal performance and costs;
recording and storing in the computer data derived from the carcass of the animal;
correlating the respective performance, costs and carcass derived data by individual animal; and
enabling a computer operator to review from a remote location an up to date cattle inventory by individual animal or group by location.
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5. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is tenderness.
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6. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is fat.
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7. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is an external dimension.
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8. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is weight gain.
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9. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is health condition.
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10. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is treatment history.
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11. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is nutrition history.
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12. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is consumer eating quality.
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13. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is carcass gain.
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14. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is an internal tissue measurement.
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15. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is genetic.
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16. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is environmental.
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17. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is marbling.
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18. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is feed efficiency.
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19. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is calculated feed intake.
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20. The method according to claim 3 where one of the characteristics is muscling measurement.
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21. The method according to claim 3 where at least two of the three characteristics, in addition to weight, are selected from the group consisting of tenderness, fat, muscling, external dimension, internal tissue characteristics, weight gain, feed intake, health condition, treatment history, nutrition history, consumer eating quality, carcass gain, feed efficiency, and mixtures thereof.
Specification