Cattle management system and method

A system for managing cattle, said system comprising:

• a data processor;
• data storage associated with said data processor;
• programming instructions residing in said data storage for executing instructions based upon user data input;
• said programming instructions including a plurality of recommended actions for management of feed provided to the cattle based upon mathematical relationships applied to a plurality of criteria corresponding to selected animal data;
• a data input device for inputting data into said data processing system;
• means for outputting information reflective of the recommendations said outputting means including at least one of a printed report and a user interface screen prescribing details on the recommended action;
• and
• wherein data input into said data processing system is stored in a central database of said data storage, and subsequent data inputs made to the system result in providing an updated recommended action taking into account a change in value of the mathematical relationships based upon subsequent data inputs that differ from initial data inputs.

A method of generating a recommended action in a data processing system for cattle management, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a data processing system including a processor, central data storage, and programming instructions for executing functions in response to data input;
• establishing a plurality of criteria corresponding to individual animal data and group animal data;
• generating at least one mathematical formula incorporating at least one criteria;
• and
• determining a threshold value for the formula corresponding to a recommended management action, said recommended management action including at least one of a change of ration for an animal, and a method of administering the ration to the animal
• conducting cattle management operations to include feeding of cattle over a period of time;
• entering data in the system reflective of actions taken place for feeding the cattle, at least some actions corresponding to said criteria;
• calculating the actual value of the formula using the actions corresponding to said criteria and comparing the actual value to the threshold value;
• generating said recommended management action if said actual value satisfies said threshold value, said recommended management action comprising at least one of a printed report and an electronic message in the form of a user interface each describing said recommended management action.

A method of managing feeding of cattle in a data processing system for cattle management, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a data processing system including a processor, central data storage, and programming instructions for executing functions in response to data input;
• establishing a plurality of management parameters including feed call, feed calculation, and feed delivery for a selected group of cattle in a selected location, said parameters being stored in said central data storage;
• recording data concerning said cattle including the number, type, and locations of said cattle in a feed lot operation;
• determining how to feed said cattle based on said management parameters, the tasks including what ration to feed, when to feed the cattle, how much to feed the cattle at each feeding, and what order the cattle should be fed at each feeding;
• developing instructions for feeding said cattle including instructions for batching rations, loading feed trucks, and delivering feed to the selected cattle;
• conducting cattle management operations to include feeding of cattle over a period of time, and observing and recording variances in amounts to be fed versus actually fed, variances in amounts to be loaded on feed trucks versus actually loaded on the trucks, and amounts of feed consumed in pens versus amounts delivered to the pens;
• adjusting at least one of the feed call, feed calculation, and feed delivery parameters in response to said conducting step;
• and
• resuming said conducting step.