Livestock management systems and methods

• US 20080065473A1
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• 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
• Application Number:
  US11/977,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20080065473A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• 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 manage environmental conditions of a plurality of animals, said method comprising:

enabling said user to input information relating to said environmental conditions;

storing said input information in a central database;

accessing market valuation information pertaining to said plurality of animals;

determining a plurality of options to improve said market valuation based on varying said environmental conditions; and

presenting said user with at least one option from said plurality of options.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said presenting comprises:

automatically selecting an option from said plurality of options; and

presenting said user with said selected option.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

providing said user with a required activity for ensuring compliance with said selected option.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said ensuring compliance comprises:

ensuring compliance with a government regulation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said government regulation is selected from the group consisting of a local regulation, a state regulation, and a federal regulation.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

providing a reminder to said user relating to said required activity.

7. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

providing said user with a warning when said user does not perform said required activity, said warning comprising a remedial action.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing said user with a plurality of tests required for monitoring said environmental conditions.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

providing said user with a plurality of laboratories for analyzing said plurality of tests.

10. A system of enabling a user to manage environmental conditions 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;

enable said user to input information relating to said environmental conditions;

store said input information in said central database;

access market valuation information pertaining to said plurality of animals;

determine a plurality of options to improve said market valuation based on varying said environmental conditions; and

present said user with at least one option from said plurality of options.

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

automatically select an option from said plurality of options; and

present said user with said selected option.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said server is further configured to:

provide said user with a required activity for ensuring compliance with said selected option.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said server is further configured to:

ensure compliance with a government regulation.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said government regulation is selected from the group consisting of a local regulation, a state regulation, and a federal regulation.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said server is further configured to:

provide a reminder to said user relating to said required activity.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said server is further configured to:

provide said user with a warning when said user does not perform said required activity, said warning comprising a remedial action.

17. A method of enabling a user to electronically monitor environmental conditions of a livestock operation, said method comprising:

enabling said user to input information relating to said environmental conditions into a central database;

associating said environmental conditions with a geographic location; and

presenting said user with a map comprising a plurality of layers relating to said environmental conditions.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

accessing a plurality of geographic

information via the Internet.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

enabling a user to compare a plurality of geographic locations.

20. A system of enabling a user to electronically monitor environmental conditions of a livestock operation, said system comprising:

a server;

a plurality of computers coupled to said server;

a central database coupled to said server;

wherein said server is configured to;

enable said user to input information relating to said environmental conditions into said central database;

associate said environmental conditions with a geographic location; and

present said user with a map comprising a plurality of layers relating to said environmental conditions.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said server is further configured to:

access a plurality of geographic information via the Internet.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said server is further configured to:

enable a user to compare a plurality of geographic locations.

23. A method of ensuring environmental compliance with government requirements for a livestock operation, said method comprising:

enabling a user to input information related to said operation into a central database;

processing at least a portion of said input information for environmental compliance; and

automatically submitting said processed information to a regulatory agency.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said enabling said user comprises:

providing said user with a form.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

providing said regulatory agency with access to said input and said processed information in said database.