Computer implemented animal management system

• US 8,823,515 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ST Reproductive Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Bella Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Rettedal, Nicholas P., Weilnau, Stephen M., Cockroft, Scott R., Yeager, Billy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/391,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20120161964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.12, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 119/51.02
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• 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 11/008 incorporating GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Specifically, a computer implemented animal management program having modules which function to match animal information retrieved from a radiofrequency identification device(s) implanted in an animal(s) with animal information retrieved from a database of at least one computer to assess animal condition and time treatment events.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of animal tracking, comprising:

connecting a computer to an RFID device reader;

reading an RFID device implanted in an animal with said RFID device reader;

retrieving an amount of animal identification information from said RFID device implanted in an animal;

linking an amount of animal information of said animal stored in a data base of said computer to said amount of information retrieved from said RFID device implanted in said animal, said amount of animal information stored in said data base of said computer comprising an amount of milk production information or an amount of days milked;

converting said amount of animal information of said animal stored in said database of said computer linked to said amount of information retrieved from said RFID device implanted in said animal into one or more logical variables;

inserting at least one of said plurality of logical variables into at least one logical expression; and

obtaining a logical value relating to said animal.

2. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 1, wherein retrieving and linking comprise:

retrieving an amount of animal identification information from a plurality of RFID devices implanted in a plurality of animals; and

correspondingly linking an amount of animal information of said plurality of animals stored in said data base of said computer to said amount of information retrieved from said plurality of RFID device.

3. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 2, further comprising retrieving an amount of date-time information from said plurality of RFID devices implanted in said plurality of animals.

4. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 3, further comprising retrieving an amount of sensed animal information from said plurality of RFID devices implanted in said plurality of animals.

5. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 4, further comprising retrieving an amount of animal location information from said plurality of RFID devices implanted in said plurality of animals.

6. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 5, wherein retrieving an amount of sensed animal information from said plurality of RFID devices implanted in said plurality of animals further comprises retrieving an amount of sensed temperature information from said plurality of RFID devices implanted in said plurality of animals.

7. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 6, wherein correspondingly linking an amount of animal information of said plurality of animals stored in said data base of said computer to said amount of information retrieved from said plurality of RFID device further comprises correspondingly linking an amount of health information corresponding to said plurality of animals stored in said data base of said computer to said amount of information retrieved from said plurality of RFID devices implanted in said animals.

8. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 7, wherein retrieving an amount of animal location information further comprises retrieving an amount of animal pen location information from of said plurality of RFID devices implanted in said plurality of animals.

9. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 8, wherein inserting at least one of said plurality of logical variables into at least one logical expression further comprises inserting an occurrence of illness for each of said plurality of animals in a selected pen during a selected period of time to determine whether there is a greater than selected number of said occurrence of illness.

10. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 6, wherein correspondingly linking an amount of animal information of each of said plurality of animals stored in said database of said computer to said amount of information retrieved from said plurality of RFID devices implanted in said plurality of animals further comprises correspondingly linking an amount of desired pen count information to said amount of information retrieved from said plurality of RFID devices implanted in said plurality of animals.

11. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 10, wherein inserting at least one of said plurality of logical variables into at least one logical expression further comprises inserting an amount of milk production information or an amount of days milked information.

12. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 11, wherein obtaining a logical value relating to said animal comprises obtaining for a selected period of time for each of said plurality of animals which of a plurality of pens in which to locate each of said plurality of animals.

13. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 6, wherein correspondingly linking an amount of animal information of said plurality of animals stored in said data base of said computer to said amount of information retrieved from said plurality of RFID device further comprises correspondingly linking an amount of date-time information as to administration of a first compound to each of said plurality of animals, an amount of date-time information as to administration of a second compound to each of said plurality of animals, an amount of date-time information as to occurrence of first compound effects on each of said plurality of animals, an amount of date-time information as to occurrence of second compound effects on each of said plurality of animals to said amount of information retrieved from said plurality of RFID devices implanted in said plurality of animals.

14. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 13, further comprising inserting an amount of date-time information as to administration of a first compound to each of said plurality of animals, an amount of date-time information as to administration of a second compound to each of said plurality of animals, an amount of date-time information as to occurrence of first compound effects on each of said plurality of animals, an amount of date-time information as to occurrence of second compound effects on each of said plurality of animals.

15. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 1, further comprising providing a server connected to said computer which provides a browser-based user interface which enables an animal tracker to track each of said plurality of animals based on said amount of information retrieved from each said bit segment of said plurality of RFID devices implanted in said plurality of animals.

16. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 15, further comprising providing a computer network connected to said computer.

17. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 16, further comprising providing a wide area network to which said computer connects.

18. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 17, further comprising providing at least one client computer capable of configuration with said executable program instructions connected to said wide area network.

19. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 18, wherein providing at least one client computer capable of configuration with said executable program instructions connected to said wide area network comprises providing a palm device capable of configuration with said executable program instructions connected to said wide area network.

20. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 19, wherein providing at least one client computer capable of configuration with said executable program instructions connected to said wide area network comprises providing a cellular telephone capable of configuration with said executable program instructions connected to said wide area network.

21. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in any one of claim 18, 19, or 20, further comprising providing a portable RFID device reader.

22. The computer implemented method of animal tracking as described in claim 21, further comprising connecting said portable RFID device reader to said client computer.

23. The computer implemented animal tracking system as described in clam 21, further comprising connecting said portable RFID device reader to said wireless palm device.

24. The computer implemented animal tracking system as described in clam 21, further comprising connecting said portable RFID device reader to said cellular telephone.

25. The computer implemented animal tracking system as described in clam 21, wherein reading an RFID device implanted in an animal with said RFID device reader comprises reading an RFID device said RFID device part of a bolus ingested by a bovine animal.