Patent ID: 6579236
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: A01K,A22B,A61B

Abstract:
A method for measuring tissue characteristics of ruminants, comprising:measuring internal tissue characteristics and/or external body measurements of ruminants at a feedlot and recording information obtained concerning each ruminant in a computer or on computer-readable medium; stunning a ruminant at a packing plant; conveying the ruminant to a position adjacent an operator who measures internal tissue characteristics of the ruminant; measuring internal tissue characteristics of the ruminant using an ultrasound tissue imaging and analysis device prior to processing the ruminant to a carcass, the device comprising a dispenser for dispensing a conductive liquid, an ultrasound transducer, and a computer coupled to the transducer, the internal tissue characteristics being used to determine a characteristic selected from the group consisting of rib eye dimensions, backfat, marbling, and combinations thereof; sorting ruminants into carcasses using predetermined criteria; and matching measurements made for each animal at the feedlot with measurements made at the packing plant.