Patent ID: 7931593

Claim:
A method for managing at least one animal, comprising: imaging at least one lung of a live animal at a feedlot to determine a degree of respiratory damage in the animal; comparing a first image of the animal's lung to at least one other lung image to determine whether the first image indicates active or past disease; assigning the animal a respiratory damage designation corresponding to the animal's degree of respiratory damage; recording the respiratory damage designation in an electronic database; associating the respiratory damage designation with a unique identifier for the animal in the electronic database; entering information relating to the animal into a computer system; measuring the animal at a processing location and entering first measurement characteristic data into the computer system including at least weight; determining in the computer system, from at least in part the first measurement characteristic data and the respiratory damage designation, a projected condition for the animal; determining in the computer system for the animal an estimated time to reach the projected condition; and selecting at least one aspect of treatment, care, and/or disposition of the animal based on the respiratory damage designation and whether the first image indicates active or past disease.