Cattle management method and system
First Claim
1. A method for managing animals for commercial food production, comprising:
- entering characteristic data including at least weight in a computer system for an animal;
determining in the computer system, from at least in part the characteristic data, a projected target condition for the animal;
determining in the computer system an estimated time required to reach the projected target condition for the animal;
selecting the animal for a group based at least in part on the estimated time required to reach the projected condition;
feeding the animal with the group in a feed pen for a feeding period; and
administering a first feed additive to the group by dispensing the first feed additive into a first feed ration by a computerized feed additive delivery system.
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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 for commercial food production, comprising:
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entering characteristic data including at least weight in a computer system for an animal; determining in the computer system, from at least in part the characteristic data, a projected target condition for the animal; determining in the computer system an estimated time required to reach the projected target condition for the animal; selecting the animal for a group based at least in part on the estimated time required to reach the projected condition; feeding the animal with the group in a feed pen for a feeding period; and administering a first feed additive to the group by dispensing the first feed additive into a first feed ration by a computerized feed additive delivery system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification