Cattle management method and system
First Claim
1. A method for managing animals, comprising:
- writing software for managing animals; and
providing the software to a feedlot, wherein a computer system using the software stores information relating to a group of animals destined for commercial food production, collects characteristic data for individual animals, collects at least two measured characteristics including a measured weight, determines from at least in part the characteristic data and measured characteristics a projected condition for the individual animals, stores the projected condition for the individual animals and/or the group, determines for the individual animals and/or the group a projected feed intake, a projected gain and an estimated time required to reach the projected condition, from at least in part the characteristic data and measured characteristics, the projected condition, feed ration information, and if used, growth promotants, stores a predetermined feed pen animal quantity for multiple feed pens, determines a number of measured individual animals per feed pen so that the feed pen animal quantity is substantially achieved, determines a sort group, which is one of multiple sort groups of animals commingled by mixing animals from different original groups of animals, into which the individual animals are sorted based at least in part on the estimated time required to reach the projected condition, records a feed pen destination, and selects individual animals or groups for shipment to slaughter utilizing at least in part group and individual projection data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated method and system for individual animal electronic identification, measurement, and management of cattle in a feedlot. Through the use of a computer system integrated with individual animal identification, multiple measurement and remeasurement systems, and a handling and sorting system, animals are individually identified and measured. The computer system calculates optimum slaughter weight, economic end point and marketing date for shipment to a packing plant. Individual animals are sorted by the computer in response to calculations from the measurements. The computer system stores individual animal measurement, performance and location data, which is used to select animals for shipment to slaughter at the optimum time. At the slaughter facility, the animal'"'"'s identification is used to correlate the live animal physical characteristics and performance data to the carcass characteristics data and build a database to more accurately identify and measure value-based characteristics in subsequent animals for more effective selection and management.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for managing animals, comprising:
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writing software for managing animals; and providing the software to a feedlot, wherein a computer system using the software stores information relating to a group of animals destined for commercial food production, collects characteristic data for individual animals, collects at least two measured characteristics including a measured weight, determines from at least in part the characteristic data and measured characteristics a projected condition for the individual animals, stores the projected condition for the individual animals and/or the group, determines for the individual animals and/or the group a projected feed intake, a projected gain and an estimated time required to reach the projected condition, from at least in part the characteristic data and measured characteristics, the projected condition, feed ration information, and if used, growth promotants, stores a predetermined feed pen animal quantity for multiple feed pens, determines a number of measured individual animals per feed pen so that the feed pen animal quantity is substantially achieved, determines a sort group, which is one of multiple sort groups of animals commingled by mixing animals from different original groups of animals, into which the individual animals are sorted based at least in part on the estimated time required to reach the projected condition, records a feed pen destination, and selects individual animals or groups for shipment to slaughter utilizing at least in part group and individual projection data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 11. A method for managing animals, comprising providing software for a computer system, or a computer system including the software, to a feedlot, wherein the computer system using the software stores information relating to a group of animals destined for commercial food production, collects characteristic data for individual animals, collects at least two measured characteristics including a measured weight, determines from at least in part the characteristic data and measured characteristics a projected condition for the individual animals, stores the projected condition for the individual animals and/or the group, determines for the individual animals and/or the group a projected feed intake, a projected gain and an estimated time required to reach the projected condition, from at least in part the characteristic data and measured characteristics, the projected condition, feed ration information, and if used, growth promotants, stores a predetermined feed pen animal quantity for multiple feed pens, determines a number of measured individual animals per feed pen so that the feed pen animal quantity is substantially achieved, determines a sort group, which is one of multiple sort groups of animals commingled by mixing animals from different original groups of animals, into which the individual animals are sorted based at least in part on the estimated time required to reach the projected condition, records a feed pen destination, and selects individual animals or groups for shipment to slaughter utilizing at least in part group and individual projection data.
Specification