Patent ID: 8282557

Claim:
A method for managing at least one animal, comprising: receiving a live animal at a feedlot; entering into a computer system information relating to the animal, wherein the computer system comprises a feedlot business system (FBS) computer capable of performing accounting functions and passing data back and forth between the FBS computer and one or more various computers used in the computer system; measuring the animal at a processing location and entering first measurement characteristic data into the computer system including at least weight; associating the first measurement data with a unique identifier for the animal in the computer system; imaging at least one lung of the animal to produce a first image and determine a degree of respiratory damage in the animal; comparing the first image 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 the unique identifier for the animal in the computer system; 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; 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.