초록 ▼

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

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 calculated 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 calculated from individual animal data and other data (g) each animal\s pro rata share of total feed intake for the animal\s feed group fed. 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 (j) 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 the animals.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of individual animal management in which groups of animals are normally retained and fed in pens to prepare them for slaughter comprising: entering into and storing in a computer system characteristics relating to a group of animals; directing animals to a measurement location; directing sa

A method of individual animal management in which groups of animals are normally retained and fed in pens to prepare them for slaughter comprising: entering into and storing in a computer system characteristics relating to a group of animals; directing animals to a measurement location; directing said group of animals at the measurement location, through a one-way single-file chute which has an animal station including gates for separating one animal at-a-time; monitoring the location of each animal within the single-file chute by the computer system in communication with animal position sensing devices; measuring various individual animals at the measurement location and entering the measurements in a system computer to record various measured characteristics, including at least (a) weight (b) measured external animal dimensions and (c) measured internal animal tissue dimensions or texture, the data entry means being operable without requiring operator visual measurement interpretation and keyboard measurement entry; operating gates in the single-file chute by the computer system in response to computer monitoring of animal locations by position sensor and completion of a measurement at the location so that animals may move forward from station to station at the appropriate time; calculating in the computer system from the characteristics data and in response to entry of the individual measurements, a projected optimum point (weight/date/EEP) of marketing for slaughter for each individual animal; attaching to each animal before exiting the chute, an identification device enabling the computer system to identify each animal and distinguish it from every other animal in the feedlot; entering into the computer the identification of each animal from the ID for that animal; correlating the characteristics data, measurement data and projection data for each animal with its ID in the computer system; directing the measured animals from the chute and measurement location to one or more feed pens, and there feeding a group of animals for a given feeding period; calculating in the computer system the projected rate of gain for each measured animal from at least the said characteristics data, individual animal measurement data, ration data, and health care or growth promotion products data; calculating a projected feed intake for each animal from at least its measured weight; for a first feeding period, calculating in the computer system the production cost for allocation to each animal in the group utilizing at least the projected feed intake for each animal, totaling the projected feed intake for all the animals in the group, calculating the pro rata share for each animal in the group, comparing that total to the actual amount fed to those animals in the group, and allocating the actual amount fed to the group on the pro rata basis to each animal in the group and storing that amount in the computer; remeasuring individually at least some of the group of animals previously measured utilizing the computer system to record and store at least weight; calculating in the computer system from data (group and individual) and in response to each animal\s measurements and remeasurements a projected optimum point of marketing for slaughter for each remeasured animal; directing each remeasured animal from the measurement location to one or more feed pens for additional feeding; calculating in the computer system the projected feed intake for each animal from at least individual remeasured weight; for a second feeding period calculating in a computer the production cost for allocation to an individual animal utilizing at least the projected feed intake by individual animal, totaling the projected feed intake for all the animals in a group, calculating the pro rata share of each animal, comparing that total to the actual amount fed to those animals and allocating the actual amount fed on the pro rata basis to each animal and storing that amount in the computer; selecting for removal individual animals or groups from the feedlot for shipment to slaughter utilizing the group and individual projection data; reading the identification device on each animal at the slaughter plant and matching the identification of the live animal to the corresponding animal carcass identity; collecting carcass data characteristics of each animal following its slaughter; matching the carcass data characteristics to the live animal in the computer system and storing in the system utilizing the individual animal identification; storing in the computer system by individual animal identification an animal\s live growth performance data and carcass data; calculating by computer adjusted formulas for improving over time the accuracy of projecting of optimum slaughter dates of future animals from the animal or group historical data, individual animal live measurement data, and the individual animal growth performance data and carcass data.