Patent ID: 6805075
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: A01K,A61B,G06Q

Abstract:
A method for managing cattle for beef production, comprising:identifying at least one animal, utilizing an electronic identifying device at least one computer, to distinguish an identified animal from every other animal in a group, 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 measure 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 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.