Livestock management systems and methods

• US 8,019,633 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MWI Veterinary Supply Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Micro Beef Technologies Ltd (MWI Veterinary Supply Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stroman, Richard D., Niedecken, Timothy G., Brink, Philip C., Gibb, James B., Afimiwala, Khurshid A., Crain, Scott L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett; Scott L
• Application Number:
  US11/977,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.11
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

This invention relates to systems and methods for managing livestock, such as cattle, from conception to consumption. More particularly, this invention relates to systems and methods in which users, such as producers, feedlot managers, packers, buyers, sellers, and consumers, are brought together through shared information and improved communication. Users may access one or more applications, tools, and/or systems to increase the value of each animal, monitor and track each animal, and improve the efficiency of their operation.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

one or more computers receiving environmental information and transport condition information for an individual animal of a plurality of animals, wherein said environmental information and transport condition information have been retrieved from an electronic identification tag of said individual animal;

said one or more computers receiving compliance information for said individual animal, wherein said compliance information comprises tracking information and certification information related to a livestock program, and wherein said certification information comprises health, management, and nutritional information for said individual animal;

said one or more computers comparing said compliance information with compliance enforcement criteria;

said one or more computers determining at least one recommended action for said individual animal, wherein said determining is based at least in part on said environmental information, said transport condition information, and said compliance information, and wherein said at least one recommended action complies with specific requirements for said livestock program, wherein said specific requirements comprise health requirements, management requirements, genetic requirements, nutrition requirements, or a combination thereof;

said one or more computers determining expected outcome information for said at least one recommended action;

said one or more computers storing said at least one recommended action for said animal;

said one or more computers comparing actual outcome information to said expected outcome information;

said one or more computers verifying whether said individual animal complies with said specific requirements for said livestock program; and

said one or more computers providing a user with information concerning said individual animal'"'"'s compliance with said specific requirements for said livestock program.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

said one or more computers predicting one or more futures trends based, at least in part, on a result of said comparison of actual outcome information to said expected outcome information.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

said one or more computers providing a user with a list of one or more steps to perform said at least one recommended action.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

said one or more computers interpreting said environmental information, said transport condition information, and said compliance information associated with said individual animal using an artificial intelligence model.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

said one or more computers interpreting said environmental information, said transport condition information, and said compliance information associated with said individual animal using a neural network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said tracking information comprises a source of said individual animal, medical history of said individual animal, condition of said individual animal, processes performed on said individual animal, average daily weight gain of said individual, or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said livestock program is a branded beef program.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said environmental information associated with said individual animal comprises weather information associated with said individual animal.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said environmental information associated with said individual animal comprises land information associated with said individual animal.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said transport condition information comprises at least one of time transported and mileage transported.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein said land information associated with said animal comprises one or more descriptions of land on which said animal has been located.

8. A system comprising:

a microprocessor; and

one or more computer-readable media containing instructions which when executed cause said microprocessor to perform a method, said method comprising,

said microprocessor receiving environmental information and transport condition information for an individual animal of a plurality of animals, wherein said environmental information and transport condition information have been retrieved from an electronic identification tag of said individual animal,

said microprocessor receiving compliance information for said individual animal, wherein said compliance information comprises tracking information and certification information related to a livestock program, and wherein said certification information comprises health, management, and nutritional information for said individual animal,

said microprocessor comparing said compliance information with compliance enforcement criteria,

said microprocessor determining at least one recommended action for said individual animal, wherein said determining is based at least in part on said environmental information, said transport condition information, and said compliance information, and wherein said at least one recommended action complies with specific requirements for said livestock program, wherein said specific requirements comprise health requirements, management requirements, genetic requirements, nutrition requirements, or a combination thereof,

said microprocessor determining expected outcome information for said at least one recommended action,

said microprocessor storing said at least one recommended action for said animal,

said microprocessor comparing actual outcome information to said expected outcome information,

said microprocessor verifying whether said individual animal complies with said specific requirements for said livestock program, and

said microprocessor providing a user with information concerning said individual animal'"'"'s compliance with said specific requirements for said livestock program.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises said microprocessor predicting one or more futures trends based, at least in part, on a result of said comparison of actual outcome information to said expected outcome information.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises said microprocessor providing a user with a list of one or more steps to perform said recommended action.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises said microprocessor interpreting said environmental information, said transport condition information, and said compliance information associated with said individual animal using an artificial intelligence model.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises said microprocessor interpreting said environmental information, said transport condition information, and said compliance information associated with said individual animal using a neural network.

15. The system of claim 8, further comprising a computer configured to send said environmental information and said transport condition information to said microprocessor.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said computer retrieves said environmental information and said transport condition information from said electronic identification tag of said individual animal.

17. The system of claim 8, further comprising a computer configured to receive said recommended action.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein said environmental information for said individual animal comprises weather information associated with said individual animal.

19. One or more computer-readable storage media containing instructions which when executed cause a computer to perform a method, said method comprising:

said computer receiving environmental information and transport condition information for an individual animal of a plurality of animals, wherein said environmental information and transport condition information have been retrieved from an electronic identification tag of said individual animal;

said computer receiving compliance information for said individual animal, wherein said compliance information comprises tracking information and certification information related to a livestock program, and wherein said certification information comprises health, management, and nutritional information for said individual animal;

said computer comparing said compliance information with compliance enforcement criteria;

said computer determining at least one recommended action for said individual animal, wherein said determining is based at least in part on said environmental information, said transport condition information, and said compliance information, and wherein said at least one recommended action complies with specific requirements for said livestock program, wherein said specific requirements comprise health requirements, management requirements, genetic requirements, nutrition requirements, or a combination thereof;

said computer determining expected outcome information for said at least one recommended action;

said computer storing said at least one recommended action for said animal;

said computer comparing actual outcome information to said expected outcome information;

said computer verifying whether said individual animal complies with said specific requirements for said livestock program; and

said computer providing a user with information concerning said individual animal'"'"'s compliance with said specific requirements for said livestock program.

22. A computer-implemented method comprising:

one or more computers receiving environmental information and transport condition information for an individual animal of a plurality of animals, wherein said environmental information and transport condition information have been retrieved from an electronic identification tag of said individual animal;

said one or more computers receiving compliance information for said individual animal, wherein said compliance information comprises tracking information and certification information related to a livestock program, and wherein said certification information comprises health, management, and nutritional information for said individual animal;

said one or more computers comparing said compliance information with compliance enforcement criteria;

said one or more computers interpreting said environmental information, said transport condition information, and said compliance information using an artificial intelligence model;

said one or more computers determining, using said artificial intelligence model, at least one recommended action for said individual animal, wherein said determining is based at least in part on said environmental information, said transport condition information, and said compliance information, and wherein said at least one recommended action complies with specific requirements for said livestock program, wherein said specific requirements comprise health requirements, management requirements, genetic requirements, nutrition requirements, or a combination thereof;

said one or more computers determining, using said artificial intelligence model, expected outcome information for said at least one recommended action;

said one or more computers storing said at least one recommended action for said animal;

said one or more computers performing a comparison of actual outcome information to said expected outcome information;

said one or more computers storing a result of said comparison in a database;

said one or more computers using said result to improve rules used by said artificial intelligence model;

said one or more computers verifying whether said individual animal complies with said specific requirements for said livestock program; and

said one or more computers providing a user with information concerning said individual animal'"'"'s compliance with said specific requirements for said livestock program.