CA1311057C
Expired / Lapsed
CA
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computerized process and system for assigning and delivering feed to animals in a feedlot
Assignee: Micro Beef Technologies Ltd
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Filing: 1989-04-04
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Granted: 1992-12-01
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Expires: 2009-04-04
Abstract
Abstract COMPUTERIZED PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR ASSIGNING AND DELIVERING FEED TO ANIMALS IN A FEEDLOT ABSTRACT The system includes a portable computer for recording assignment data for each cattle pen and a host computer that stores feed consumption data for each of the plurality of cattle pens in the feedlot. The portable computer includes means for entering data such as a keyboard or other machine that enables a driver reading the feed bunks to identify each cattle pen and enter the assignment data as he views the feed bunks. The cattle pens may be identified by a conventional alphnumeric symbol or may have automated means such as an RF signal from a transmitter or a bar code that can be read from the truck cab. The driver has the option of reviewing the feed consumption data on the computer screen as he makes a feed assignment. The assignment data is used by the host computer to update its feed consumption data and to generate feed delivery data for feed trucks. This data may include a ration number and ration quantity for each cattle pen as well as a feeding route for each feed truck. During the feed delivery, the dispensing of the ration quantity at each feed bunk is monitored by a portable computer to check if the cattle pen is receiving the correct ration number and ration quantity. The portable computer is also adpated to record for each cattle pen the actual feed dispensed into its feed bunk for comparison against the desired ration quantity.
Inventors
- 👤 William C. Pratt
- 👤 William D. Mckillip
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
CA
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:26
CPC Classifications
—
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A system for assigning feed to feed bunks in a feedlot, comprising: computer means for storing feed consumption data for each of a plurality of animal pens in the feedlot; and data entry means accessible at each of said animal pens for entering feed assignment data for the feed bunk associated with an animal pen, said data entry means being adapted to communicate with said computer means to review the feed consumption data for the animal pen and to transfer to said computer means the entered assignment data, said computer means being adapted to use said entered assignment data for updating the feed consumption data for each of said animal pens.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A system for assigning feed to feed bunks in a feedlot, comprising: computer means for storing feed consumption data for each of a plurality of animal pens in the feedlot; and data entry means accessible at each of said animal pens for entering feed assignment data for the feed bunk associated with an animal pen, said data entry means being adapted to communicate with said computer means to review the feed consumption data for the animal pen and to transfer to said computer means the entered assignment data, said computer means being adapted to use said entered assignment data for updating the feed consumption data for each of said animal pens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 in which said data entry means is further adapted to communicate with said computer means to review the feed consumption data while entering the assignment data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system of claim 1 in which the computer means comprises a host computer for storing the feed consumption data and a portable computer associated with the data entry means for recording the assignment data entered, said portable computer being adapted to transfer said recorded assignment data to the host computer and to display the feed consumption data from the host computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 including route-determining means associated with the computer means for determining from the updated feed consumption data a feeding route to said animal pens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 1 including feed-determining means associated with the computer means for determining from the updated feed consumption data a ration quantity for each of said animal pens, said ration quantity data being feed delivery data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 including identification means for identifying each animal pen and capable of being read by a machine, and the data entry means including a machine for reading the identification means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 6 in which the identification means comprises an RF transmitter and the machine comprises an RF receiver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 6 in which the identification means comprises a bar code and the machine comprises a bar code scanner.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for delivering feed rations to feed bunks in a feedlot, comprising: computer means for providing feed delivery data indicating a ration quantity to be delivered to each of a plurality of animal pens for dispensing in an associated feed bunk; feed carrying means for delivering feed to each animal pen in the quantity indicated by the feed delivery data, the feed carrying means including a scale for weighing each ration quantity actually dispensed into the associated feed bunk; and data entry means accessible at each animal pen for entering the feed dispensed data provided by the scale, said data entry means being adapted to communicate with the computer means to transfer to said computer means the feed dispensed data, the computer means being adapted to compare said feed dispensed data against the feed delivery data for each animal pen.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for delivering feed rations to feed bunks in a feedlot, comprising: computer means for providing feed delivery data indicating a ration quantity to be delivered to each of a plurality of animal pens for dispensing in an associated feed bunk; feed carrying means for delivering feed to each animal pen in the quantity indicated by the feed delivery data, the feed carrying means including a scale for weighing each ration quantity actually dispensed into the associated feed bunk; and data entry means accessible at each animal pen for entering the feed dispensed data provided by the scale, said data entry means being adapted to communicate with the computer means to transfer to said computer means the feed dispensed data, the computer means being adapted to compare said feed dispensed data against the feed delivery data for each animal pen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 9 in which the computer means comprises a host computer for storing the feed delivery data and a portable computer associated with the data entry means for recording said feed dispensed data, said portable computer being adapted to transfer said feed dispensed data to the host computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 9 in which said data entry means includes means for coupling the computer means to the scale for entering weight measured by the scale.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 9 in which said computer means is adapted to use the data comparison to check the animal pen identification against the ration type being delivered to the pen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 9 in which said computer means is adapted to use the data comparison to monitor the actual ration quantity dispensed against a desired ration quantity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 9 in which the feed delivery data includes withdrawal data for each drug within a feed ration and the computer means is adapted to check the withdrawal data for the ration against the date that animal are being discharged from the animal pen which is receiving the ration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 9 in which the feed delivery means comprises a motor vehicle and the feed delivery data includes a delivery route for the motor vehicle calculated from the ration quantities to be delivered to the animal pens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 9 including identification means for identifying each animal pen and capable of being read by a machine and the data entry means including a machine for reading the identification means.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for delivering feed rations to feed bunks in a feedlot, comprising: computer means for providing feed delivery data indicating a ration quantity to be delivered to each of a plurality of pens for dispensing in the associated feed bunk; feed carrying means for delivering feed to each animal pen in the quantity indicated by the feed delivery data; and scale means for weighing each ration quantity provided to the feed carrying means and dispensed from the feed carrying means, the computer means being adapted to compare said feed dispensed data against the feed delivery data for each pen.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for delivering feed rations to feed bunks in a feedlot, comprising: computer means for providing feed delivery data indicating a ration quantity to be delivered to each of a plurality of pens for dispensing in the associated feed bunk; feed carrying means for delivering feed to each animal pen in the quantity indicated by the feed delivery data; and scale means for weighing each ration quantity provided to the feed carrying means and dispensed from the feed carrying means, the computer means being adapted to compare said feed dispensed data against the feed delivery data for each pen.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
223 words
A system for assigning and delivering feed rations to feed bunks in a feedlot, comprising: computer means for storing feed consumption data and calculating therefrom feed delivery data for each of a plurality of animal pens in the feedlot; first data entry means accessible at each of said animal pens for entering feed assignment data for the feed bunk associated with the feed bunk, said data entry means being adapted to communicate with said computer means to review the feed consumption data for the animal pen and to transfer to said computer means the entered assignment data, the computer means being adapted to use said assignment data for updating the feed consumption data and calculating the feed delivery data for each of said animal pens; feed carrying means for delivering feed to each animal pen in a quantity indicated by the feed delivery data, the feed carrying means including a scale for weighing each ration quantity actually dispensed into a feed bunk; and second data entry means accessible at each animal pen for entering feed dispensed data provided by the scale, said data entry means being adapted to communicate with the computer means to transfer to said computer means the feed dispensed data, the computer means being adapted to compare said data against the feed delivery data for each of the animal pens.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
223 words
A system for assigning and delivering feed rations to feed bunks in a feedlot, comprising: computer means for storing feed consumption data and calculating therefrom feed delivery data for each of a plurality of animal pens in the feedlot; first data entry means accessible at each of said animal pens for entering feed assignment data for the feed bunk associated with the feed bunk, said data entry means being adapted to communicate with said computer means to review the feed consumption data for the animal pen and to transfer to said computer means the entered assignment data, the computer means being adapted to use said assignment data for updating the feed consumption data and calculating the feed delivery data for each of said animal pens; feed carrying means for delivering feed to each animal pen in a quantity indicated by the feed delivery data, the feed carrying means including a scale for weighing each ration quantity actually dispensed into a feed bunk; and second data entry means accessible at each animal pen for entering feed dispensed data provided by the scale, said data entry means being adapted to communicate with the computer means to transfer to said computer means the feed dispensed data, the computer means being adapted to compare said data against the feed delivery data for each of the animal pens.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 18 in which the computer means comprises a host computer for storing the feed consumption data and calculating the feed delivery data and portable computers associated with each of the data entry means for recording the assignment data and feed dispensed data entered, said portable computers being adapted to transfer the recorded data to the host computer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
104 words
A process for assigning feed to feed bunks in a feedlot, comprising: driving to an animal pen having an associated feed bunk for which feed is to be assigned; entering pen identification data for the pen in a computer programmed to store data about each pen; observing the condition of the feed bunk for making a feed assignment; entering feed assignment data for the feed bunk into the computer for recording with the pen identification; repeating the above steps until feed has been assigned to each feed bunk; and gathering the entered data for determining the feed to be delivered to the animal pens.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
104 words
A process for assigning feed to feed bunks in a feedlot, comprising: driving to an animal pen having an associated feed bunk for which feed is to be assigned; entering pen identification data for the pen in a computer programmed to store data about each pen; observing the condition of the feed bunk for making a feed assignment; entering feed assignment data for the feed bunk into the computer for recording with the pen identification; repeating the above steps until feed has been assigned to each feed bunk; and gathering the entered data for determining the feed to be delivered to the animal pens.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 20 including: storing in the computer for selective display feed consumption data for each of the animal pens; and reviewing the feed consumption data for each animal pen while entering the feed assignment data for the pen.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 20 in which gathering the entered data comprises transferring the data to a host computer for updating feed consumption data for the animal pens.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 20 in which entering assignment data includes entering data on the priority of feeding for the animal pens.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 20 in which entering pen identification data comprises reading and confirming a pen identification provided as part of a preselected bunk reading route by the computer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 20 in which entering pen identification data comprises reading the pen identification on the animal pen by machine.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
142 words
A process for delivering feed rations to feed bunks in a feedlot, comprising: storing in a computer for selective display feed delivery data for each of a plurality of animal pens in the feedlot, each pen having an associated feed bunk, said data including the type of feed ration for each pen; loading a feed truck with a ration quantity for said delivery; driving to one of the animal pens for delivering the ration quantity; entering in the computer pen identification data; checking via the computer the pen identification data against the type of ration to determine if the ration type is to be dispensed to the pen; monitoring the ration quantity as it is being dispensed into the feed bunk associated with the pen; repeating the above steps for each animal pen; and recording for each pen the actual quantities dispensed.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
142 words
A process for delivering feed rations to feed bunks in a feedlot, comprising: storing in a computer for selective display feed delivery data for each of a plurality of animal pens in the feedlot, each pen having an associated feed bunk, said data including the type of feed ration for each pen; loading a feed truck with a ration quantity for said delivery; driving to one of the animal pens for delivering the ration quantity; entering in the computer pen identification data; checking via the computer the pen identification data against the type of ration to determine if the ration type is to be dispensed to the pen; monitoring the ration quantity as it is being dispensed into the feed bunk associated with the pen; repeating the above steps for each animal pen; and recording for each pen the actual quantities dispensed.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 26 in which the feed delivery data includes a desired quantity of feed ration to be delivered to each pen, and monitoring the ration quantity comprises comparing via the computer the ration quantity actually dispensed against the desired quantity in the feed delivery data.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
46 words
The process of claim 26 in which the feed delivery data includes a desired quantity of feed ration to be delivered to each pen, and recording for each pen the actual quantities dispensed includes recording the actual quantity against the desired quantity dispensed for each pen.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 26 including checking the type of feed ration for a withdrawal date against the date that animal in the pen are being discharged.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 26 in which entering pen identification data comprises reading and confirming a pen identification provided as part of a preselected feed delivery route by the computer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 26 in which entering pen identification data comprises reading the pen identification on the animal pen by machine.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 26 in which monitoring the ration quantity as it is being dispensed includes displaying the target weight for the quantity beforehand and alerting the truck operator as the target weight is approached during the dispensing.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 26 in which checking the pen identification against the ration type includes alerting the truck operator if the ration type should i not be dispensed in the identified pen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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