Animal husbandry – Watering or liquid feed device – Fountains and troughs
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-16
2002-12-24
Swiatek, Robert P. (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Watering or liquid feed device
Fountains and troughs
Reexamination Certificate
active
06497197
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a passive transponder identification system and a method of using the same, more specifically, a system, which is capable of being used with multiple transponders to monitor the feeding and drinking behavior of animals in order to predict a variety of conditions relating to health, productivity and quality.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Changes in individual animal feeding and watering behavior has been linked to poor performance in several livestock species (Pijpers et al. 1991; Basarab et al. 1997). Traditionally measuring individual animal feeding behavior and intake has been labor intensive, costly and only conducted on small numbers of animals. In cattle, individual animal feeding behavior and intake was measured using specialized equipment such as the Calan gate and pinpointer. However this equipment was impractical under commercial feedlot conditions and did not reflect the feeding patterns of cattle fed from one bunk or trough in large groups.
Over the past forty years or so passive radio frequency identification has been used to automatically identify objects. One example of a practical application of this technology has resulted in electronic identification of individual animals. The basic elements of such systems include a reader/transmitter, an antenna and a transponder. The reader/transmitter sends an electromagnetic charge wave through the antenna to the transponder, which uses this energy to transmit a radio frequency signal back through the antenna to the reader/transmitter. Typically, the signal includes an identification code unique to each transponder. In order to monitor the activities of large herds or confined groupings of animals, one must be able to monitor multiple transponders in a relatively small area. With currently available technology it is extremely difficult to read multiple transponders using one reader/transmitter.
If each one of the multiple transponders uses the same frequency to transmit its unique identification code back to the reader/transmitter, a single reader/transmitter is unable to readily decipher each individual identification code. In order to make systems with multiple transponders operational, multiple reader/transmitters are required which, in turn, render such systems costly, and will also reduce the area in which the transponders can be simultaneously read.
The application of a medication in a feedlot, except for mass medication of all of the animals contained within the confined area, typically consists of spotting the animal or animals by a pen rider and by removing the animal from the group of animals. This process is somewhat difficult, time consuming and cost intensive. Moreover, removal of an animal from his or her “home environment” causes stress in the removed animal, which often alters or debilitates the immune system of the removed animal. Each time a pen rider enters a pen they create stress, which upsets feeding behavior. Stress reduces the ability to fight disease and weight gain. It also increases shrink, damages rumen function and can interfere with reproduction.
In addition, it is desirable to determine the weight of an animal at various growth stages and herding animals through an animal squeeze presently do this, which is equipped with a weighing device. Such practice is generally far more expensive than the potential financial gain obtained by such measurement because the animals are often bruised and stressed by such measurement procedure, which may impact the feeding behavior and weight of the animals.
Several technologies have been developed which assist in determining an animal slaughter readiness such as a “frame scoring” technique. Frame score is a convenient way of describing the skeletal size of cattle. Frame score, as a predictor of maturity, predicts when an animal is likely to achieve a finished slaughter weight. Other technologies, such as ultrasound back fat measurements, are applied 3 to 4 months prior to slaughter, have been used to improve the carcass uniformity and profitability of finished cattle. However this method was found to be labor intensive and costly to implement, (Basarab et all 1997; Basarab et al 1999, Basarab et al, 2000). Stress prior to slaughter is one of the most important influences on ultimate meat tenderness.
Determination of an animal's intake is valuable information. During the first 100 to 150 lbs. of gain, cattle are especially prone to acidosis resulting from poor feeding management, excessive/erratic intake and too much energy. Peaking in gain too soon results in poor performance later in the feeding period because of acidosis or from cattle finishing and maturing too quickly. Erratic intake usually means acidosis and poor gain and cost of gain curves. In many cases the gain curve will “drop off” prematurely before cattle are finished.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned problems and drawbacks associated with the prior art designs.
Another object is to provide a passive transponder identification system that is capable of transmitting to and reading signals sent from multiple transponders, even if all of the transponders utilize the same frequency.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an unobtrusive monitoring system, which allows continuous observation of feeding and drinking behaviors of sick and healthy cattle without disruption of typical feeding behaviors.
It is another object of the present invention to allow more accurate monitoring of the animals to occur by improved positioning of the antennas. For example, the inventors have obtained beneficial results by having a plurality of antennas integrally formed or molded into a large flexible or affixed mat which is then installed as a lining along an elongate feeding or drinking trough.
Still another object of the present invention is to increase the read range of the transponders while still keeping the system as inexpensive as possible. For example, in a preferred form of the invention, a panel, which houses an RF Generator, is mounted in the region of the flexible mat housing the plurality of antennas. Additionally, in a further effort to reduce the manufacturing costs of the flexible mats, it is beneficial to print conductive ink on a non-conductive substrate to which metals can be plated. Both sides of the substrate are utilized to keep the inductance of the wire(s) leading to the antennas as low as possible. Additionally looped wire can be affixed directly into the feeding or watering trough and cemented into place through a two-part urethane spray process.
Yet other objects of the present invention are:
(1) to reduce the thickness of the flexible mat,
(2) to provide a more sturdy and lightweight flexible mat, and
(3) to provide a flexible mat that can be readily glued, affixed, cemented or sprayed to a conventional feeding or drinking trough to thereby become an extension of the feeding or drinking trough itself to facilitate minimal maintenance of the flexible or affixed mat while still providing for a secure attachment of the flexible mat to the feeding or drinking bunk. It is to be appreciated that for utilization in agricultural environments, the flexible mat must be very easy to install, service, connect, disconnect, etc.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a panel, housing a RF Generator, equipped with data storage capabilities and a transmission mechanism to facilitate transmission of data from the panel by means of infrared technology or RF technology. Such remote transmission minimizes the amount of wiring that is necessary for use in this system and avoids the need to have a plurality of wires running from the remote data collection locations to a central monitoring location. The running of such wires, especially in agricultural environments, is costly and such wires can also readily become damaged and/or disconnected.
A further object of the present invention is to provide computer software to collect data and facilitate analy
Davis & Bujold P.L.L.C.
Growsafe Systems Ltd.
Swiatek Robert P.
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