Cattle Identification via Retinal Biometrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cattle management systems face challenges in providing comprehensive data management across the entire production cycle, including animal identification, data integration, and compliance with proposed national unique animal identification programs, due to compartmentalized data storage and loss of identification tags during the animal's life cycle.
Innovation Solution
A data processing system that utilizes unique identification methods like retinal imaging and centralizes data storage, allowing for tracking and reporting of animal locations and events throughout the production cycle, with modules for cow/calf and grower/feedlot operations, enabling data transfer and processing across various facilities and entities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external or internal tagging devices are used to identify cattle, then animal identification can be achieved, but the tags can become separated from the animal resulting in loss of identification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical tagging systems (external ear tags, internal implants) with biometric identification systems that capture and store unique physiological characteristics of the animal. This substitution eliminates the physical tag that can detach while maintaining reliable identification through inherent biological features.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from identifying animals by external physical tags to identifying them by intrinsic biological parameters such as retinal patterns, DNA sequences, or other physiological characteristics. This parameter change ensures identification reliability by using features that cannot be lost or detached from the animal.
2Ease of operation
If compartmentalized data storage is used in cattle management systems, then data can be managed at individual facilities, but comprehensive data management across the entire production cycle cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data from multiple compartmentalized sources (ranch, grower, feedlot operations) into a unified centralized database. This integration maintains the operational independence of individual facilities while achieving comprehensive data management across the entire cattle production cycle from birth to slaughter.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal data management platform that serves multiple functions: local facility operations, cross-facility data integration, regulatory compliance reporting, and economic analysis. This multi-functional system resolves the contradiction by enabling both localized ease of operation and comprehensive data management simultaneously.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional cattle management systems are used, then basic tracking can be achieved, but compliance with proposed national unique animal identification programs cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic adaptability by designing an identification and data management platform that can adjust to different regulatory requirements and program specifications. The system maintains reliability for regulatory compliance through flexible configuration options that can accommodate various national and state identification program requirements while ensuring continuous tracking capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A cattle management system and method are provided for managing numerous routine and non-routine management activities. The system and method incorporate a data processing system wherein comprehensive data is gathered and maintained on each individual animal as well as on selected groups of animals. Preferably, a central database is used which allows enhanced functionality with respect to not only data entry and data transfer, but also with respect to providing system generated management recommendations. Some significant functionality of the present invention includes the ability to track the location of each individual animal by utilizing unique identification data for each animal, recording all monitored events that take place at each location during the animal's production cycle, and reporting the events and locations as required to government entities, financial institutions, and other entities within the cattle industry.