Livestock management systems and methods

• US 20080059263A1
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MWI Veterinary Supply Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Micro Beef Technologies Ltd (MWI Veterinary Supply Incorporated)
• Inventors: Crain, Scott, Stroman, Richard, Afimiwala, Khurshid, Gibb, James, Niedecken, Timothy, Brink, Philip
• Granted Patent: US 7,603,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

This invention relates to systems and methods for managing livestock, such as cattle, from conception to consumption. More particularly, this invention relates to systems and methods in which users, such as producers, feedlot managers, packers, buyers, sellers, and consumers, are brought together through shared information and improved communication. Users may access one or more applications, tools, and/or systems to increase the value of each animal, monitor and track each animal, and improve the efficiency of their operation.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a user to ship livestock, said method comprising:

receiving information from a marketplace, wherein said received information comprises shipping transactions pertaining to livestock;

analyzing said livestock shipping transactions to form livestock shipping patterns;

determining availability of at least one shipper;

enabling said user to view a plurality of shipping arrangements, said shipping arrangements comprising shipping transaction information; and

selecting a shipping arrangement from said plurality of shipping arrangements.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

predicting future shipping needs based on said received information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting a shipping arrangement is performed automatically.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

notifying said user of said selected shipping arrangement.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said information provided to said user during viewing comprises at least one of the following:

transportation cost, animal shipment time, animal mortality rate, truck revenue miles, and status of shipment.

6. The method for claim 1, wherein said selecting said shipping arrangement comprises:

determining a shipping arrangement for the return trip.

7. A system of enabling a user to ship livestock, said system comprising:

a server;

a plurality of computers coupled to said server; and

a central database coupled to said server;

wherein said server is configured to;

receive information from a marketplace, wherein said received information comprises shipping transactions pertaining to livestock;

analyze said livestock shipping transactions to form livestock shipping patterns;

determine availability of at least one shipper;

enable said user to view a plurality of shipping arrangements, said shipping arrangements comprising shipping transaction information; and

select a shipping arrangement from said plurality of shipping arrangements.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said server is further configured to:

predicting future shipping needs based on said received information.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said server is further configured to:

select a shipping arrangement is performed automatically.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said server is further configured to:

notify said user of said selected shipping arrangement.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said information provided to said user during viewing comprises at least one of the following:

transportation cost, animal shipment time, animal mortality rate, truck revenue miles, and status of shipment.

12. The system for claim 7, wherein said server is further configured to:

determine a shipping arrangement for the return trip.