Patent ID: 6516746
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: A01K,A61B,G06Q

Abstract:
A method for managing cattle for beef production, comprising:identifying at least one animal, utilizing an identifying device and at least one computer, to distinguish an identified animal from every other animal in a group, and 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 measured weight, and 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 data derived from a carcass of the identified animal; storing the identified animal's performance and costs data in the computer; and correlating in the computer the respective performance and costs data with the carcass derived data for the identified animal.