Method of facilitating the transfer of information relating to livestock and/or food products

A method of utilising a computer network to facilitate the transfer of livestock from a vendor to a purchaser, the method including the steps:

• (a) the vendor initiates a connection over the computer network between a computer associated with the vendor and a computer associated with a transfer facilitator;
• (b) the transfer facilitator prompts the vendor for information pertaining to the consignment of livestock that the vendor proposes to transfer;
• (c) in response to prompts from the transfer facilitator, the vendor provides the transfer facilitator with information regarding the livestock which the vendor proposes to transfer;
• and
• (d) the transfer facilitator converts the information received from the vendor into a vendor declaration and posts the vendor declaration to a point on the computer network accessible by the vendor and/or one or more prospective purchasers.

A method according to claim, including the steps:

• (a) the vendor appoints a third party;
• (b) the third party connects to the transfer facilitator via the computer network;
• (c) the third party provides information regarding the livestock sold on behalf of the purchaser;
• and
• (d) the transfer facilitator verifies the identity of the third party and upon verification, the vendor declaration is automatically modified to include information provided by the third party in the vendor declaration.

A transfer facilitation system located on a computer network, the system provided to facilitate the transfer of livestock from a vendor to a purchaser, the system including the following components

• (a) access means for allowing the vendor to access the system via 10 the computer network;
• (b) means for interrogating the vendor to allow collection of information pertaining to the livestock that the vendor proposes to sell;
• (c) conversion means for converting the information pertaining to the consignment of livestock, the information collected from the vendor and converted into a vendor declaration;
• and
• (d) posting means for posting the vendor declaration to a point on the computer network accessible by one or more prospective purchasers.

A method of utilising a computer network to provide information pertaining to the suitability of livestock for consumption, the method including the steps of:

• (a) a vendor initiates a connection over the computer network between a computer associated with the vendor and a computer associated with a transfer facilitator;
• (b) the vendor provides the transfer facilitator with information regarding the livestock which the vendor proposes to sell;
• and
• (c) the transfer facilitator automatically converts the information received from the vendor into a vendor declaration and posts the vendor declaration to a point on the computer network accessible by the vendor and/or one or more prospective purchasers.

A method of utilising a computer network to provide information pertaining to the suitability of food for consumption, the method including the steps of:

• (a) a food provider initiates a connection over the computer network between a computer associated with the food provider and a computer associated with a transfer facilitator;
• (b) the food provider enters information pertaining to food that the food provider intends to sell including information pertaining to the suitability of the food for consumption;
• and
• (c) the transfer facilitator converts the information received from the food provider into a declaration and posts the declaration to a point on the computer network accessible by the food provider and/or one or more prospective purchasers.

A method of providing information pertaining to food over a computer network to facilitate the transfer of food from a food provider to a purchaser, the method including the steps:

• (a) a food provider initiates a connection over the computer network between a computer associated with the food provider and a computer associated with a transfer facilitator;
• (b) the food provider enters information pertaining to food that the food provider intends to transfer including information pertaining to the suitability of the food for consumption;
• and
• (c) the transfer facilitator converts the information received from the food provider into a declaration and posts the declaration to a point on the computer network accessible by the food provider and/or one or more prospective purchasers.

A food information system located on a computer network, the system provided to facilitate provision of information pertaining to food, the system including the following components:

• (a) access means for allowing a food provider to access the system via the computer network;
• (b) means for interrogating the food provider to allow collection of information pertaining to food which the food provider proposes to provide, the information including information pertaining to the suitability of the food for consumption;
• (c) conversion means for converting the information pertaining to the food into a declaration;
• and
• (d) posting means for posting the declaration to a point on the computer network accessible by one or more purchasers and/or the food provider.