Livestock management systems and methods

• US 20080059534A1
• 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 8,642,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• 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 utilize genetics to improve the quality of a plurality of animals, said method comprising:

selecting at least one specification from a plurality of specifications that relate to said plurality of animals, said at least one specification comprising animal quality objectives of said user;

accessing a plurality of genetics rules in a central database, said plurality of genetics rules comprising animal quality information;

comparing said at least one specification to said plurality of rules;

selecting a genetics rule based on said comparison; and

presenting said user with a genetics improvement strategy based on said selected rule.

2. A system of enabling a user to utilize genetics to improve the quality of a plurality of animals, 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;

select at least one specification from a plurality of specifications that relate to said plurality of animals, said at least one specification comprising animal quality objectives of said user;

access a plurality of genetics rules in said central database, said plurality of genetics rules comprising animal quality information;

compare said at least one specification to said plurality of rules;

select a genetics rule based on said comparison; and

present said user with a genetics improvement strategy based on said selected rule.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein said system enables a user to utilize genetics to sort said plurality of animals into subgroups of animals, wherein said server is configured to:

receive results from at least one genetics test;

obtain attributes of said plurality of animals from said results;

enable said user to enter sorting criteria;

compare said attributes to sorting criteria; and

sort said plurality of animals into subgroups based on said comparison.

3. A method of enabling a user to utilize genetics to improve the quality of an animal that has experienced a genetics test, said method comprising:

receiving results from said genetics test;

obtaining attributes of said animal from said results;

accessing a plurality of genetics rules in a central database;

comparing said attributes to said plurality of genetics rules;

selecting a genetics rule based on said comparison; and

presenting said user with a genetics improvement strategy based on said selected rule.

4. A system of enabling a user to utilize genetics to improve the quality of an animal that has experienced a genetics test, 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 results from said genetics test;

obtain attributes of said animal from said results;

access a plurality of genetics rules in a central database;

compare said attributes to said plurality of genetics rules;

select a genetics rule based on said comparison; and

present said user with a genetics improvement strategy based on said selected rule.

5. A method of enabling a user to utilize

genetics to sort a plurality of animals each of which has experienced at least one genetics test into subgroups of animals, said method comprising:

receiving results from at least one genetics test;

obtaining attributes of said plurality of animals from said results;

enabling said user to enter sorting criteria;

comparing said attributes to sorting criteria; and

sorting said plurality of animals into subgroups based on said comparison.