Livestock Traceability System Using Segmented Lot Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current meat production tracking systems face challenges in efficiently tracing the origin of meat products due to high computational and monetary costs, redundant data management, and inaccurate quality grading based on the ribeye, which hinders quick traceability and leads to misleading quality assessments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for tracking livestock and carcasses using a central processor with a tracking member and database that receives information at various points in the production process, determines a window of traceability, and cross-references carcass IDs to determine the origin of meat products, allowing for quick recall and accurate grading of subprimal portions based on their individual quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a unique identification number is assigned to every animal and lot with comprehensive tracking at each process step, then traceability accuracy is improved, but computational cost and monetary cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tracking system into two levels: lot-level tracking (grouping animals from the same source) and individual animal tracking (using ear tags). This segmentation allows the system to maintain traceability accuracy while reducing computational burden by not requiring every single animal to have a unique process history recorded at each step.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a multi-functional tracking system that can operate at different levels of detail depending on the need. The same system infrastructure supports both lot-level aggregation (for general traceability) and individual animal tracking (for specific recalls), reducing redundant computational overhead.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive tracking data is maintained for every animal through multiple process steps, then traceability is improved, but data storage requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides tracking information into two segments: lot information (source, destination, group composition) and individual animal information (ear tag ID, specific process history). This segmentation simplifies the overall system architecture by allowing lot-level data to be stored once and referenced by multiple animals, rather than duplicating comprehensive data for each animal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces lot numbers as intermediary identifiers that link multiple animals to their common origin. Instead of directly tracking every animal through every process step, the system uses lot numbers as mediators, simplifying the data structure and reducing system complexity while maintaining traceability.
3Ease of manufacture
If quality grading is based on ribeye analysis, then grading process is simplified, but quality assessment accuracy deteriorates for other portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality assessment by evaluating different portions of the carcass separately rather than using a single ribeye-based grade for the entire animal. Each portion (loin, chuck, round, etc.) is assessed on its own quality characteristics, allowing accurate grading of subprimal portions while maintaining process simplicity through automated imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual ribeye-based quality assessment with automated optical imaging systems that can evaluate multiple portions simultaneously. This substitution maintains ease of manufacture through automation while improving measurement precision by capturing objective visual data from multiple carcass regions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described that provide a relatively quick and easy way of tracing meat products to their origins. Specifically, methods of tracing a fully processed meat product back through the production process use windows of traceability to quickly identify which lots were being processed at a particular time. Identification and cross-referencing during the production process also allow for further tracking of the origin of meat products, ultimately up to their feedlot of origin.