Ruminant tissue analysis at packing plants for electronic cattle management and grading meat

A method for analyzing tissue characteristics of ruminants in a packing plant, comprising:

• stunning and bleeding ruminants in a packing plant;
• conveying the ruminants seriatim to a position adjacent a first operator, the first operator applying an ultrasound image enhancing fluid adjacent to a rib eye portion of each ruminant's hide;
• and
• conveying the ruminants seriatim to a position adjacent a second operator, the second operator placing an ultrasound tissue analysis device adjacent the rib eye portion of each ruminant to perform ultrasound tissue imaging and analysis.

A method for analyzing tissue characteristics of ruminants in a packing plant, comprising:

• stunning and bleeding ruminants in a packing plant;
• conveying ruminants seriatim to a position adjacent a first operator, the first operator applying an ultrasound image enhancing fluid to each ruminant's hide at a rib eye portion of the ruminant;
• conveying ruminants having ultrasound enhancing fluid applied to a rib eye portion seriatim to a position adjacent a second operator, the second operator performing ultrasound tissue analysis on a different ruminant at least every 30 seconds as each ruminant is conveyed past the second operator;
• and processing the ruminants to carcasses.

A method for analyzing tissue characteristics of ruminants in a packing plant, comprising:

• stunning and bleeding ruminants in a packing plant;
• conveying the ruminants seriatim to a position adjacent a tissue analysis zone where an ultrasound tissue imaging device is placed adjacent a rib eye portion of the ruminant, an ultrasound image enhancing fluid is applied to each ruminant's hide at a rib eye portion of the ruminant using the device, and ultrasound tissue analysis is performed on a different ruminant of a plurality at least every 30 seconds as each ruminant is conveyed past the tissue analysis zone;
• and
• processing the ruminants to carcasses.

A method for processing and managing ruminants and ruminant products in a feedlot and packing plant, 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;
• feeding the ruminants at the feedlot;
• shipping the ruminants to a packing plant;
• measuring tissue characteristics of stunned ruminants at a packing plant using a tissue imaging and analysis device prior to processing the ruminants to carcasses;
• and
• matching measurements made for each animal at the feedlot with measurements made at the packing plant.

A method for monitoring processing of ruminants in a feedlot and packing plant, comprising:

• measuring internal tissue characteristics and/or external body measurements for ruminants at a feedlot and recording information obtained concerning each ruminant in a computer or on a computer-readable medium;
• feeding the ruminants at the feedlot;
• remeasuring internal tissue characteristics and/or body measurements for ruminants to determine a date for shipping each ruminant to a packing plant;
• shipping the ruminants to a packing plant;
• measuring rib eye dimensions and ruminant backfat and determining tissue marbling of a stunned ruminant at a packing plant using an ultrasound tissue imaging and analysis device prior to processing the ruminant to a carcass;
• matching measurements made for each animal at the feedlot with measurements made at the packing plant;
• and
• determining yield and quality values for the ruminants based on measurements made at the feedlot and packing plant for making management decisions concerning future processing of ruminants.