Automated Livestock Carcass Tracking System for Abscess Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for tracking and managing livestock in meat production facilities are inefficient and costly, with inconsistent data collection and grading processes, leading to financial losses due to preventable conditions like abscesses in beef livers, which can be treated with commercially available drugs before slaughter.
Innovation Solution
An automated system that includes a central processor with a tracking member and database to manage and track animal carcasses, allowing for the administration of drug programs and tracing of meat products back to their origin, enabling efficient data collection, analysis, and reporting on the health and quality of livestock and carcasses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inspection and data collection methods are used, then personnel can assess livestock health and quality, but the process is costly, inconsistent, and difficult to maintain over time due to personnel changes and training variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection processes with an automated electronic tracking and imaging system. Cameras capture images of livestock and carcasses, and computer algorithms automatically analyze health conditions and quality metrics, eliminating personnel variability and maintaining consistent measurement precision over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies (images) of livestock and carcasses, which can be stored, analyzed, and reviewed without requiring physical re-inspection. These digital records enable consistent data collection and comparison across different time periods and personnel, resolving the inconsistency issue while maintaining system simplicity.
2Productivity
If automated tracking systems are implemented, then data collection consistency and efficiency improve, but the system complexity and initial cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking system is designed to perform multiple functions: capturing images of live livestock, tracking carcasses through processing, analyzing health conditions, and storing data. This multi-functionality increases productivity by consolidating multiple manual processes into a single automated system while managing complexity through integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically captures images, identifies livestock, tracks movement, and analyzes health conditions without requiring continuous human intervention. The automated analysis algorithms process images and generate reports independently, significantly improving productivity while reducing the operational complexity burden on personnel.
3Productivity
If livestock are fast converted to high protein diet, then production efficiency increases, but abscesses develop in livers causing financial losses
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of abscesses and other health issues in live livestock before slaughter using image analysis. By identifying affected animals early, the system enables proactive health management and treatment decisions, preventing the development of severe conditions that would cause financial losses while maintaining production efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking system provides continuous feedback on livestock health status by analyzing images and monitoring changes over time. This feedback loop enables producers to adjust feeding programs and health management strategies in response to detected conditions, balancing production efficiency with animal health to prevent abscess-related losses.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described that provide a fast and simple way of administering a drug program related to livestock. Specifically, accurate, automated livestock-to-carcass, meat product, or organ identification systems are provided that can receive, compile and analyze information regarding the condition of a carcass, meat product, or organ in a form that is readily readable, transferable to others, and associated with, or linked to, other information such as the feedlot, lot and/or animal of origin as well as the presence or absence of an administered drug, combination of drugs, or drug program.