Patent ID: 6333160
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for controlling the health of a group of animals and maintaining the group of animals in a condition of optimum health to maximize the productivity of the animals in the group, comprising the steps of(a) quantitatively determining the normal upper limit for the .alpha..sub.1 -acid glycoprotein value in a selected body fluid for normal healthy animals of the kind in the group;(b) measuring the .alpha..sub.1 -acid glycoprotein values in said selected body fluid of the animals in the group;(c) comparing the measured .alpha..sub.1 -acid glycoprotein values obtained in step (b) to the normal upper limit determined in step (a);(d) identifying the animals in the group with .alpha..sub.1 -acid glycoprotein values that exceed said normal upper limit;(e) using the information obtained in step (d) to assess the relative health of the animals in the group; and(f) based upon the assessment of step (e), taking the action required to promote and maintain the optimum health of the animals in the group, thereby maximizing the productivity of the animals in the group.