Determining respiratory or circulatory health condition in animals for improved management
First Claim
1. A method for managing at least one animal, comprising:
- receiving a live animal at a feedlot;
entering into a computer system information relating to the animal, wherein the computer system comprises a feedlot business system (FBS) computer capable of performing accounting functions and passing data back and forth between the FBS computer and one or more various computers used in the computer system;
measuring the animal at a processing location and entering first measurement characteristic data into the computer system including at least weight;
associating the first measurement data with a unique identifier for the animal in the computer system;
imaging at least one lung of the animal to produce a first image and determine a degree of respiratory damage in the animal;
comparing the first image to at least one other lung image to determine whether the first image indicates active or past disease;
assigning the animal a respiratory damage designation corresponding to the animal'"'"'s degree of respiratory damage;
recording the respiratory damage designation in an electronic database;
associating the respiratory damage designation with the unique identifier for the animal in the computer system;
determining in the computer system, from at least in part the first measurement characteristic data and the respiratory damage designation, a projected condition for the animal; and
selecting at least one aspect of treatment, care, and/or disposition of the animal based on the respiratory damage designation and whether the first image indicates active or past disease.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for managing at least one animal is disclosed. The method can include imaging, such as ultrasound imaging, a lung of a live animal, such as a ruminant or bovine. The imaging can be performed to determine a degree of respiratory damage from past respiratory illness. After imaging, information regarding respiratory damage can be used to select at least one aspect of the treatment, care or disposition of the animal. For example, the information can be used to select the amount or type of feed provided to the animal at a feedlot. The information also can be used to select how long the animal should be housed at the feedlot prior to slaughter. If an animal is diagnosed with a respiratory illness, information about its degree of respiratory damage from past respiratory illness also can be used to select the appropriate medical treatment or lack of treatment.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for managing at least one animal, comprising:
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receiving a live animal at a feedlot; entering into a computer system information relating to the animal, wherein the computer system comprises a feedlot business system (FBS) computer capable of performing accounting functions and passing data back and forth between the FBS computer and one or more various computers used in the computer system; measuring the animal at a processing location and entering first measurement characteristic data into the computer system including at least weight; associating the first measurement data with a unique identifier for the animal in the computer system; imaging at least one lung of the animal to produce a first image and determine a degree of respiratory damage in the animal; comparing the first image to at least one other lung image to determine whether the first image indicates active or past disease; assigning the animal a respiratory damage designation corresponding to the animal'"'"'s degree of respiratory damage; recording the respiratory damage designation in an electronic database; associating the respiratory damage designation with the unique identifier for the animal in the computer system; determining in the computer system, from at least in part the first measurement characteristic data and the respiratory damage designation, a projected condition for the animal; and selecting at least one aspect of treatment, care, and/or disposition of the animal based on the respiratory damage designation and whether the first image indicates active or past disease. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification