Cattle management method and system
First Claim
1. A method for managing cattle for beef production, comprising:
- identifying at least one animal, utilizing an electronic identifying device and at least one computer, to distinguish an identified animal from every other animal in a group, and recording the animal'"'"'s identification in the computer;
directing the identified animal to a measurement location remote from a feeding location;
directing the identified animal at the measurement location through a one-way chute;
recording at least two characteristics of the identified animal, including a measured weight, selected from the group consisting of external dimension, internal tissue characteristic, measured weight gain, feed intake, health treatment, cost of gain, genetic characteristic, and combinations thereof, and matching the recorded characteristics with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;
calculating in the computer projected feed intake for the identified animal from at least its measured weight and feed energy value;
totaling in the computer the calculated feed intake for all animals in the group, calculating a pro rated share for each animal in the group, comparing that total to an actual amount fed to those animals in the group, allocating the actual amount fed to the group based on the pro rated share to each animal in the group and storing that amount in the computer;
matching in the computer the recorded characteristics with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;
feeding the identified animal with a group of other animals;
storing in the computer for the identified animal a limit or target condition;
making a computer projection of an estimated time or date for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or target condition based at least in part on the characteristics;
selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the estimated time or date;
directing the identified animal at the measurement location through a chute for separating one animal at a time from the group;
sorting the identified animal into a group of animals based at least in part upon the target condition;
directing the identified animal from the chute and measurement location to one or more feeding locations;
enabling a computer operator to review an up to date cattle inventory by identified individual animal by location;
collecting carcass data characteristics of the identified animal following shipment of the identified animal from a cattle feedlot to a slaughter facility;
storing in the computer health and treatment data, feed requirements data, feed delivery data, and data derived from a carcass of the identified animal;
storing the identified animal'"'"'s performance;
calculating in the computer cost for the identified animal; and
correlating in the computer the respective performance and costs data with the carcass derived data for the identified animal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A highly automated method and system for providing individual animal electronic identification, measurement and value based management of cattle in a large cattle feedlot. Through the use of (1) a computer system integrated with (2) automatic individual animal identification (3) multiple measurement and remeasurement systems with automatic data input and (4) a cattle handling and sorting system, animals are individually (a) identified and (b) measured by weight, external dimensions and characteristics of internal body tissue. With this information together with animal physiological characteristics and historical data, the computer system calculates the optimum (c) slaughter weight, (d) economic end point and (e) marketing date for shipment to a packing plant. After measurement, individual animals are (f) sorted by direction of the computer in response to calculations from the measurements. The computer system also calculates from individual animal data and other data (g) each animal'"'"'s pro rata share of total feed intake for the animal'"'"'s feed group. The computer system (h) stores individual animal measurement, performance and location data, which is used by management to (i) select animals for shipment from the feedlot for slaughter at the optimum time. Following an animal'"'"'s shipment to a slaughter facility, its identification in the computer system is used to (1) correlate the live animal physical characteristics and performance data to the measured and evaluated carcass characteristics data obtained during the slaughter process and (k) build a data base to more accurately identify and measure value-based characteristics in subsequent animals produced and fed for more effective value-based selection and management of those animals.
13 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for managing cattle for beef production, comprising:
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identifying at least one animal, utilizing an electronic identifying device and at least one computer, to distinguish an identified animal from every other animal in a group, and recording the animal'"'"'s identification in the computer;
directing the identified animal to a measurement location remote from a feeding location;
directing the identified animal at the measurement location through a one-way chute;
recording at least two characteristics of the identified animal, including a measured weight, selected from the group consisting of external dimension, internal tissue characteristic, measured weight gain, feed intake, health treatment, cost of gain, genetic characteristic, and combinations thereof, and matching the recorded characteristics with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;
calculating in the computer projected feed intake for the identified animal from at least its measured weight and feed energy value;
totaling in the computer the calculated feed intake for all animals in the group, calculating a pro rated share for each animal in the group, comparing that total to an actual amount fed to those animals in the group, allocating the actual amount fed to the group based on the pro rated share to each animal in the group and storing that amount in the computer;
matching in the computer the recorded characteristics with the animal'"'"'s recorded identification;
feeding the identified animal with a group of other animals;
storing in the computer for the identified animal a limit or target condition;
making a computer projection of an estimated time or date for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or target condition based at least in part on the characteristics;
selecting the identified animal for further processing based at least in part on the estimated time or date;
directing the identified animal at the measurement location through a chute for separating one animal at a time from the group;
sorting the identified animal into a group of animals based at least in part upon the target condition;
directing the identified animal from the chute and measurement location to one or more feeding locations;
enabling a computer operator to review an up to date cattle inventory by identified individual animal by location;
collecting carcass data characteristics of the identified animal following shipment of the identified animal from a cattle feedlot to a slaughter facility;
storing in the computer health and treatment data, feed requirements data, feed delivery data, and data derived from a carcass of the identified animal;
storing the identified animal'"'"'s performance;
calculating in the computer cost for the identified animal; and
correlating in the computer the respective performance and costs data with the carcass derived data for the identified animal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An electronic cattle management system, comprising:
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an electronic identification device for identifying an individual animal from other animals in a group of animals;
a measuring station having a data entry device for measuring and recording at least one characteristic of an animal, the measuring station also having an animal positioning device;
at least one computer for storing identification information for the animal and for recording at least two physical characteristics, including weight, and for matching the recorded identification information with the characteristics;
a data entry device for entering into the computer animal identification information and initial characteristics prior to a feeding period and characteristics following a feeding period for the animal with the group of animals; and
a data output device in communication with the computer, the computer being operable following entry of the animal'"'"'s identity for projecting for the identified animal a limit or target condition, projecting an estimated time or date for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or target condition, and selecting the animal for further processing based at least in part on the characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electronic cattle management system, comprising:
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an electronic identification device for identifying an individual animal from other animals in a group of animals;
a measuring station having a data entry device for measuring and recording at least one characteristic of an animal, the measuring station also having an animal positioning device;
plural computers in a computer network for storing identification information for the animal and for recording at least two physical characteristics, including weight, and for matching the recorded identification information with the characteristics;
a data entry device for entering into the computers animal identification information and initial characteristics prior to a feeding period and characteristics following a feeding period for the animal with the group of animals;
an ultrasound tissue measuring device that provides internal tissue data for correlation with the animal identification and storage in the computers;
a computerized feed additive delivery system, whereby the computers record and store data from the computerized feed additive delivery system, and utilizes such information to calculate cost of production and feed additive costs for an identified animal; and
a data output device in communication with the computers, the computers being operable following entry of the animal'"'"'s identity for projecting for the identified animal a limit or target condition, projecting an estimated time or date for the identified animal to achieve the projected limit or target condition, and selecting the animal for further processing based at least in part on the characteristics.
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Specification