Cattle management method and system

• US 7,726,258 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MWI Veterinary Supply Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Micro Beef Technologies Ltd (MWI Veterinary Supply Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pratt, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PRICE JR, RICHARD THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US12/167,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 119/51.02, 119/502, 119840-842, 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 animals for commercial food production which includes a time period in which groups of animals are fed in pens in feedlots prior to shipment from the feedlot for processing into food products, comprising:

entering information relating to a group of animals into a computer system, where the computer system is capable of performing feedlot accounting functions;

directing animals from the group to a processing location and through a one-way chute which has gates for separating one animal at a time at a location remote from a feed pen;

entering characteristic data for individual animals into a computer at the location, where the computer is part of the computer system;

measuring the individual animals at the processing location and entering measurement characteristic data into the computer including at least weight;

determining in the computer system, from at least in part the measurement characteristic data, a projected condition for the individual animals;

recording the condition for the individual animals in the computer system and correlating the condition with at least the weight measurement characteristic data for the individual animals;

determining in the computer system for the individual animals a projected feed intake, a projected gain and an estimated time required to reach the projected condition, from at least in part the measured characteristic data, the projected condition, feed ration information, and if used, growth promotants;

entering into the computer system a predetermined feed pen animal quantity for multiple feed pens and determining in the computer system a number of measured individual animals per pen to substantially achieve the feed pen animal quantity;

selecting measured individual animals for one of multiple sort groups of animals which have been selected for a sort group based at least in part on the estimated time required to reach the projected condition;

directing animals from the processing location to one or more feed pens, and there feeding directed animals for a feeding period;

entering into the computer system for each sort group an estimated time required to reach the projected condition; and

determining for the measured individual animals or sort group an estimated time required to reach the projected condition, following measurement and during the time the directed animals are being fed for the feeding period, based at least in part on composition of the ration and projected feed intake.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring the individual animals at the processing location and entering an external dimension.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring the individual animals at the processing location and entering an internal tissue characteristic.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

administering a feed additive growth promotant to animals in a feed pen based at least in part on an estimated time required to reach a projected condition for the animals in the feed pen;

dispensing the feed additive growth promotant into the feed ration by a computerized feed additive delivery system for administering the feed additive growth promotant to the animals in the feed pen; and

dispensing the feed additive growth promotant at a determined time prior to shipment of the animals from the feedlot for substantially optimizing economic value for the animals in the feed pen.

5. The method of claim 4 where the feed additive growth promotant is selected from a group of growth promotants including ionophores.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising discontinuing dispensing the feed additive growth promotant into the feed ration for the animals in the feed pen to provide a withdrawal period for the feed additive growth promotant.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising dispensing the feed additive growth promotant into the feed ration at a time prior to the estimated time required to reach the projected condition to facilitate substantially optimizing the economic value of the animals in the pen.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising using the computerized feed additive delivery system to dispense multiple feed additives into the feed ration for administering the feed additives to the animals in the feed pen during the feeding period.

9. The method of claim 1, where the computer system includes a feedlot business system (FBS) computer capable of performing feedlot accounting functions.

10. The method of claim 9 where the computer system further comprises 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 each and every combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising entering into the computer system at least animal health history and treatment data, bunkreader and feed truck feed ration assignment and delivery data, and computerized feed additive delivery system feed additive data.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising collecting and storing such data in a database in the computer system to calculate desired animal information.

13. The method of claim 12 where the desired animal information includes a production value.

14. The method of claim 10 where each of the FBS computer, the computerized animal drug inventory control and animal health history and drug treatment system, the computerized feed additive delivery system, and the computerized bunk reader system are separate computers not in communication with one another.

15. The method of claim 10 where each of the FBS computer, the computerized animal drug inventory control and animal health history and drug treatment system, the computerized feed additive delivery system, and the computerized bunk reader system are separate computers in communication with one another.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving and storing data from the computerized animal drug inventory control and animal health history and drug treatment system, the computerized feed additive delivery system, the computerized bunk reader system, or each and every combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 16 where the FBS computer is capable of receiving and storing data concerning an amount of feed ration delivered to at least one or more feed pens from the computerized bunk reader system.

18. The method of claim 16 where the data includes drug usage information, feed ration usage information, feed additive usage information, or each and every combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising prorating feed ration and feed additive costs to individual feed pen animals to calculate a cost of production value for the individual feed pen animals.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising determining in the computer system a revised estimated time required for the individual feed pen animals to reach the projected condition.

21. The method of claim 16 where the data includes drug usage information, feed ration usage information, and/or feed additive usage information, and the data can be used together with the characteristic data concerning the individual feed pen animals to prorate feed ration and feed additive costs to each of the individual feed pen animals.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising calculating a cost of production value and other desired information about the individual feed pen animals.

23. The method of claim 9 where at least one of the one or more various computers is at a location remote from the FBS computer.

24. The method of claim 9 where the FBS computer performs feedlot accounting functions.

25. The method of claim 9 where the FBS computer generates financial reports.

26. The method of claim 1 further comprising entering into the computer system animal prior history data.

27. The method of claim 26 where animal prior history data includes at least age and source data.

28. The method of claim 1 further comprising entering into the computer system age, source, genetic data, and combinations thereof.

29. The method of claim 1 further comprising entering into the computer system an identification for the sort group into which each measured individual animal is sorted.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising correlating the estimated time required to reach the projected condition for each sort group with the identification of the sort group.

31. The method of claim 29 further comprising identifying each sorted animal in the sort group by attaching an identification device to the sorted animal which provides an identification of the sorted animal and distinguishes it from animals of another sort group.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising entering the identification of the sorted animal in the computer system and matching it to the identification for the sort group in the computer system.

33. The method of claim 1 where the multiple sort groups include animals commingled by mixing animals from different original groups of animals.

34. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting measured individual animals to provide selected animals for further processing or management.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising selecting and removing measured individual animals from a feed pen for shipment to slaughter utilizing at least in part the estimated time required to reach the condition.

36. The method of claim 34 where selecting measured individual animals to provide selected animals for further processing or management includes one or more of the following:

selecting a time to administer a feed additive growth promotant to selected animals;

selecting a growth promotant for administering to a selected animal at the processing location;

selecting a feed additive for feeding to selected animals;

selecting a feed ration for feeding to selected animals;

selecting a health or growth treatment for administering to a selected animal at the processing location;

selecting a health product for feeding to selected animals;

selecting a product for feeding to selected animals for improving the quality grading and value of the beef from the selected animals;

selecting a product for administering to a selected animal at the processing location for improving the quality grading and value of the beef from the selected animal;

selecting selected animals for shipment to slaughter when a drug withdrawal period has expired for a drug requiring a withdrawal period; and

selecting selected animals for health condition treatment or management.

37. The method of claim 34 further comprising selecting and removing measured individual animals from a feed pen for shipment to slaughter utilizing at least in part an estimated time required to reach an economic value of the measured individual animals.

38. The method of claim 1 further comprising utilizing an identification device associated with each individual animal enabling the computer system to identify each individual animal and distinguish it from other animals.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising entering into the computer system the identification of each identified individual animal from the identification device for that animal.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising entering into the computer system the prior history and information obtained during identification, measuring, processing and management of each identified individual animal.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising entering into the computer system location data relating to the identified individual animal for a time period beginning at birth and continuing until slaughter for processing the identified individual animal into beef products and correlating the location data with the identification for the individual animal in the computer system.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising reviewing from a remote location the information in the computer system for one or more identified individual animals to obtain an inventory of identified individual animals.

43. The method of claim 39 where entering into the computer system the identification of each identified individual animal from the identification device for that animal includes using an electronic identification device for the identified individual animal.

44. The method of claim 39 further comprising selecting a condition for an identified animal where the condition is selected from days to finish, days on feed, economic endpoint, end date, finish weight, back fat, maximum back fat, an internal measurement of the identified animal, maximum value of the identified animal, maximum profit realizable from the identified animal, a point at which an incremental production cost equals an economic value of the identified animal, a desired economic value of the identified animal, a desired physical characteristic of the identified animal, a desired rate of change for any measurement of the identified animal taken multiple times, and combinations thereof.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

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

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

making a computer projection of a subsequent estimated time or date for the identified animal to achieve a subsequent projected limit or condition; and

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

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

calculating a first feed consumption amount for the identified animal using a feed allocation formula that takes into account at least two physical characteristics of the identified animal to provide a calculated consumption;

recording the calculated consumption to provide a recorded feed consumption;

matching the recorded feed consumption with the identified animal'"'"'s identification;

calculating subsequent feed consumption by the identified animal during a subsequent feeding period using a feed allocation formula that takes into account the recorded feed consumption and subsequent measurements;

recording the subsequent feed consumption; and

matching the subsequent feed consumption with the identified animal'"'"'s identification.

47. The method of claim 46 where calculating the recorded feed consumption and/or subsequent feed consumption includes a rate of weight gain calculation for the identified animal.

48. The method of claim 45 where making a computer projection of the subsequent estimated time for the identified animal to achieve the subsequent projected limit or condition includes using, at least in part, individual animal characteristic data, ration data, growth promotant product data, or combinations thereof.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising transmitting data and characteristics for the identified animal to a cattle producer for use in improving animal genetics for future beef production.

50. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

determining, from at least in part subsequent animal characteristics, a revised projected limit or condition for the identified animal;

recording the revised projected limit or condition and correlating the revised projected limit or condition with at least a second weight measurement for the identified animal;

determining from at least in part subsequent animal characteristics and the revised projected limit or condition of the identified animal a revised estimated time or date required to reach the revised limit or projected condition; and

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

51. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

selecting the identified animal for shipment from the feedlot for slaughter utilizing the subsequent projected limit or condition;

shipping the identified animal from the feedlot;

slaughtering the identified animal at a slaughter facility;

reading the identification device on the identified animal and matching the identification of the animal to a corresponding animal carcass identity;

collecting carcass data of the identified animal;

storing in the computer system health and treatment data, feed requirements data, feed delivery data, and carcass data for the identified animal;

storing in the computer system performance data for the identified animal;

calculating costs for the identified animal; and

correlating in the computer system respective performance and costs data with the carcass data for the identified animal.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising determining in the computer system adjusted formulas from the performance data and carcass data for improving management accuracy of future animals.

53. The method of claim 45 where selecting the identified animal for further processing includes one or more of the following:

selecting a time to administer a feed additive growth promotant to the identified animal;

selecting a growth promotant for administering to the identified animal at the processing location;

selecting a feed additive for feeding to the identified animal;

selecting a feed ration for feeding to the identified animal;

selecting a health or growth treatment for administering to the identified animal at the processing location;

selecting a health product for feeding to the identified animal;

selecting a product for feeding to the identified animal for improving the quality grading and value of the beef from the identified animal;

selecting a product for administering to the identified animal at the processing location for improving quality grading and value of the beef from the identified animal;

selecting the identified animal for shipment to slaughter when a drug withdrawal period has expired for a drug requiring a withdrawal period; and

selecting the identified animal for health condition treatment or management.

54. The method of claim 45 where selecting the identified animal for further processing is based at least in part on the second weight measurement and a health condition or selected treatment.

55. The method of claim 54 where selecting the identified animal for further processing is based at least in part on a recorded cost of the selected treatment and a recorded cost of gain of the identified animal.

56. The method of claim 45 where selecting the identified animal for further processing is based at least in part on a projected limit or condition of one or more carcass characteristics, and the one or more carcass characteristics is calculated at least in part from one or more live-animal measured characteristics of the identified animal.

57. The method of claim 45 where at least the subsequent measuring step is performed at a measuring station remote from the feed pen.

58. The method of claim 57 where the measuring station comprises a single-file chute subdivided into separated measuring stations by gates, with a downstream end of the chute leading to one or more sorting pens, the identified animal being directed into one of the one or more sorting pens after being measured.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

providing computer control for controlling gate operation for gates in multiple stations in the single-file chute to provide sequential movement of the identified animal from one station to another station; and

providing computer control for selectively controlling operation of sorting gates at a sorting pens entrance following exit of the identified animal from a last station in the single-file chute.

60. The method of claim 45 further comprising removing the identified animal from the feed pen at the end of the feeding period, directing the identified animal to a measuring station, and there measuring and recording at least two physical characteristics of the identified animal.

61. The method of claim 45 further comprising sorting measured animals into a sort group of animals which have been selected for the sort group based at least in part on the subsequent estimated time required to reach the subsequent projected limit or condition, the sort group being directed to a feed pen for a second feeding period.

62. The method of claim 61 where, after sorting measured animals into a sort group of animals, the method further comprises:

recording and storing in the computer system an identification for a particular sort group into which each measured animal is sorted for each of first and any subsequent sort groups;

recording and storing in the computer system for each particular sort group an estimated time required to reach the limit or condition;

correlating the estimated time with the recorded identification of the particular sort group;

identifying each animal in the particular sort group to provide a sort group identification using an identification device for the animal which distinguishes it from animals of another sort group;

recording the animal'"'"'s identification in the computer system and correlating it to the sort group identification in the computer system;

entering into the computer system, during a subsequent measurement of each animal, identification for each animal using the identification device and determining the sort group identification recorded in the computer system for each previously measured and sorted animal; and

determining for an individual animal an estimated time required to reach the limit or condition using at least in part individual animal characteristic data, ration data, growth promotant data, the individual animal'"'"'s sort group time required to reach the limit or condition, or combinations thereof.

63. The method of claim 61 including entering into the computer system a predetermined feed pen animal quantity for multiple feed pens and determining in the computer system a number of animals per pen to substantially achieve the feed pen animal quantity.

64. The method of claim 45 and, after the subsequent measuring step, further comprising:

sorting the identified animal into a second group of animals determined at least in part by recorded first and second measurements; and

directing the second group to a feed pen for a second feeding period, the second feeding period being determined at least in part by the subsequent estimated time.

65. The method of claim 64 where the identified animal is selected and sorted into the feed pen with the second group of animals for the second feeding period according to predetermined criteria determined at least in part from a measurement taken during the subsequent measuring and recording step.

66. The method of claim 45 and, after the subsequent measuring step, further comprising:

calculating and recording, from data including at least the first and second recorded weight measurements for the identified animal, a rate of weight gain for the identified animal to provide a recorded rate of weight gain;

matching the recorded rate of weight gain with the recorded identification of the identified animal; and

determining the subsequent projected limit or condition of the identified animal using data which includes at least the recorded rate of weight gain.

67. The method of claim 45 where the projected limit or condition for the identified animal includes a projected weight which is determined using data for the identified animal that includes at least measurement data obtained from at least one of the first and subsequent measuring steps.

68. The method of claim 45 and, after the subsequent measuring step, further comprising:

sorting the identified animal into one of at least three sort groups according to criteria determined at least in part by measurements taken in the first and subsequent measuring steps; and

directing the at least three sort groups to different feed pens for a subsequent feeding period.

69. The method of claim 68 where at least one of the at least three sort groups is a flex sort group, where identified animals in the flex sort group have criteria which allow them to be placed in either of two other sort groups.

70. The method according to claim 69 further comprising resorting identified animals of the flex sort group into one of the two other sort groups before being directed to feed pens for a subsequent feeding period.

71. The method of claim 70 where sorting into the at least three sort groups and resorting from the flex sort group into the two other sort groups includes using computer-controlled sorting gates.

72. The method according to claim 70 where sorting and resorting include operating selected sorting gates in response to a computer-determined sort group for each identified animal.

73. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining in the computer system an estimated time to reach a condition.

74. The method of claim 73 further comprising determining in the computer system a revised estimated time to reach the condition based at least in part on actual feed intake, a projected gain, a production value, production costs, and combinations thereof.

75. The method of claim 1 where measurement characteristic data includes two or more of the characteristics of weight, external dimension and internal tissue.

76. The method of claim 1 where the computer system stores data used in a management system.

77. The method of claim 1 where data can be passed back and forth between one or more various computers used in the computer system.

78. The method of claim 9 where data can be passed back and forth between the FBS computer and one or more various computers used in the computer system.

79. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining for each sort group an estimated time required to reach an economic value based at least in part on the characteristic data for measured individual animals and projection information stored in a database in the computer system.

80. The method of claim 1 where entering information relating to the group of animals into the computer system includes entering one or more of condition score, cattle factors and environmental factors.

81. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining in the computer system a feed efficiency for the individual animals.

82. The method of claim 1 further comprising dispensing a feed additive growth promotant into the feed ration during a feeding period for at least one of the multiple sort groups of animals.

83. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining an estimated time to reach a projected condition for a sort group which is one of the multiple sort groups.

84. The method of claim 83 further comprising selecting an animal from the sort group and shipping the animal for slaughter at a time different from the estimated time required to reach the projected condition for the sort group.

85. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining an economic value for the measured individual animals or sort group.

86. The method of claim 85 where determining an economic value may include determining one or more of market price, grade and projected animal performance.

87. The method of claim 85 where determining an economic value includes projecting marketing dates of animals, utilizing projected production costs of animals compared to projected market value of such animals, and then selecting individuals or groups of animals for slaughter on a date that will provide an economic performance of the individual or group.

88. The method of claim 85 where determining an economic value includes substantially optimizing meat quality and yield characteristics.

89. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining in the computer system adjusted formulas for improving management accuracy of future animals.

90. The method of claim 1 where characteristic data for the individual animals includes an average weight of the animals in the group.

91. The method of claim 1 further comprising entering into the computer system economic information.

92. The method of claim 91 where economic information includes economic return, economic performance, economic end point, economic value, economical point for shipping, and combinations thereof.

93. The method of claim 1 including enabling a computer operator to review from a remote location an up-to-date cattle inventory by individual animal or group by location.