Method and system for livestock data collection and management

A method for collecting livestock information comprising:

• identifying each animal with a unique identifier selected from the group consisting of radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder, such that the transponder provides a unique code when queried by a radio frequency identification reader unit, and that code identifies a particular animal,
• barcode, such that the barcode provides a unique code when queried by a bar code reader unit, and that code identifies a particular animal,
• unique biological characteristics including DNA, retinal scans, and iris scans, and a visual identification device such as an ear tag that can subsequently be related to an RFID code, a barcode, or a unique biological characteristic;
• determining the animal unique identifier at the time of a key animal event;
• uploading the animal unique identifier to an event database on a host computer;
• entering at least a portion of the data associated with the key animal event to the computer;
• and
• maintaining on at least one computer a database of events and measurement data for the animal, such that the data can be accessed according to the animal's unique identifier.

A method of entering event data common to a group of individual animals into a database, the method comprising

• individually identifying the animals in the group;
• specifying a regimen to be applied to the group by
• predefining, before the entry of the event data into the database, at least one regimen event common to the animals in the group, and
• predefining an event detail to be associated with each event in the regimen;
• identifying the regimen with an identifier;
• associating the event identifier with individual animals at the time of processing the animals;
• and
• recording into the database, for each animal, each event and event detail in the regimen.

A wireless livestock data collection system comprising

• a host computer with data collection software;
• a base station connected to the host computer;
• a means for unique animal identification;
• a plurality of unique animal identification readers in wireless communication with the base station;
• and
• a plurality of data measurement devices in wireless communication with the base station.

A computer implemented method for identifying, tracking and monitoring livestock, comprising:

• inputting an animal unique code for an animal;
• capturing at least one event and detail attribute associated with the animal unique code at a first time and a first place, and storing that data on a first transaction database;
• capturing at least one event and detail attribute associated with the animal unique code at a second time and a second place, and storing that data on a second transaction database;
• running queries that identify individual animals form attribute data or which identify attribute data for a particular animal by
• accessing the first transaction database, and
• accessing the second transaction database;
• and
• displaying query results.

A method of livestock supply chain management comprising

• individually identifying a plurality of animals from a plurality of producers;
• capturing data for a first animal on a first database;
• capturing data for the first animal on a second database;
• capturing data for a second animal on a third database;
• providing a directory which identifies the databases containing data for each animal, so that the data for the animal can be accessed from a plurality of databases;
• forecasting growth and quality characteristics of animals based on the historical data for the animal;
• forecasting the demand over time for animals;
• assigning individual animals to meet the forecasted demand based upon the forecasted growth and quality characteristics.

A distributed transactional database comprising:

• a first database containing a first portion of data associated with a particular agricultural item, the first database comprising a plurality of rows, each row comprising
• A unique item identification element,
• A unique event identification element,
• A parent identification,
• A date and time of the event,
• An event,
• An event detail, and
• An entity identification;
• and
• a second database containing a second portion of data associated with the item or a product transformation of the item, the second database comprising a plurality of rows, each row comprising
• A unique item identification element,
• A unique event identification element,
• A parent identification,
• A date and time of the event,
• An event,
• An event detail, and
• An entity identification.