WO2016027271A1

WO2016027271A1 - Livestock management

Info

Publication number: WO2016027271A1
Application number: PCT/IL2015/050835
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seffi VARSANO
Original assignee: Indi -Vet Ltd
Current assignee: Indi -Vet Ltd
Priority date: 2014-08-18
Filing date: 2015-08-18
Publication date: 2016-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 2017-02-18

Abstract

A livestock management system for a first livestock and a second livestock facility having a plurality of animals, the system comprising: a data processing block configured to process data associated with the first livestock facility; a plurality of animal identification components, wherein each identification component comprises a unique identifying information, and wherein each identification component is attached to a single animal from the first livestock facility; and at least one network element configured to interface between a user and said data processing block, wherein the plurality of network elements is further configured to obtain the unique identifying information of animals, and wherein the livestock management system of the first livestock facility is configured to exchange information with a livestock management system of a second livestock facility.

Description

LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a systems and methods for management of farms. More particularly, the present invention relates to livestock facilities and information sharing with neighboring farms.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In 2010, the United States alone consumed approximately 26.4 billion pounds of beef, putting the retail equivalent value of the entire beef industry around 74 billion U.S. dollars. For this level of consumption to be maintained, each cattle farmer must maintain an average herd size of around 100 or more heads of cattle. Yet in 2010, due to factors such as bovine respiratory disease and other illnesses, the industry also suffered a significant loss of above million cattle, resulting from antibiotic treatment, losses due to death, and reduced herd performance. Clearly this considerable impact on the livestock industry calls for a better way to manage livestock.

[0003] Recent research exhibits the need for developing technology and systems for assisting livestock businesses and governments with decision making tools. The tools should be based on detailed information; such as, production inputs, production equipment, production facilities, real-estate, customers, livestock inventory, supply chain, logistics inventory, finance and marketing; of livestock facilities. The tools should also be capable to enable real-time access to essential information and perform computations that assets decision-makers at all levels in the organization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, A livestock management system for a first livestock and a second livestock facility having a plurality of animals is provided, the system comprising: a data processing block configured to process data associated with the first livestock facility; a plurality of animal identification components, wherein each identification component comprises a unique identifying information, and wherein each identification component is attached to a single animal from the first livestock facility; and at least one network element configured to interface between a user and the data processing block, wherein the plurality of network elements is further configured to obtain the unique identifying information of animals, and wherein the livestock management system of the first livestock facility is configured to exchange information with a livestock management system of a second livestock facility.

[0005] In some exemplary embodiments, the data processing block is hosted in a cloud processing platform.

[0006] In some exemplary embodiments the plurality of network elements is selected from the group consisting of: a smart phone; tracking device; notebook computer; network printer; tablet; and a desktop computer.

[0007] In some exemplary embodiments, each identification component is selected from the group consisting of: a tracking device; a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; and a livestock ear tag.

[0008] In some exemplary embodiments, the at least one network element is further configured to perform operations selected from the group consisting of: receive a global positioning system (GPS) satellite signal; determine its GPS coordinates; read the passive RFID tag; and display information to the user.

[0009] In some exemplary embodiments, the plurality of network elements is further configured to perform operations selected from the group consisting of: obtaining digital photographs; digital voice recording; and conversion of a digital voice record to written text in at least one language. [0010] In some exemplary embodiments, the at least one network element comprises communication components.

[0011] In some exemplary embodiments, the at least one network element is further configured to allow communication with the data processing block over the internet.

[0012] In some exemplary embodiments, the first network element of the plurality of network elements is configured to allow communication with a second network element of the plurality of network elements, and wherein the first network element and the second network element are configured to communicate over networks selected from the group consisting of: a wide area network, and a local area network.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the present invention a method for livestock management, utilizing existing livestock facilities is provided, wherein each facility has a database comprising records and predefined categories having a range of values, the method comprising: obtaining a request for information service from a user; receiving information having values from the user; analyzing the received information for a change compared to a corresponding record in the database; determining if the values, of the analyzed information having a change, exceeds the range of the database, wherein information that exceeds the range is indicated as unusual information; distributing the unusual information to at least one user of at least one livestock facility; fetching from the database the information requested by the user; producing outcome information from the fetched information; and outputting the outcome information to the user.

[0014] In some exemplary embodiments, obtaining the request further comprises prioritizing requests in the order in which they arrive.

[0015] In some exemplary embodiments, obtaining further comprises: logging the request for information in the database; and authenticating the user with the users' record of the database.

[0016] In some exemplary embodiments, logging the request comprises registering data selected from the group consisting of: date, time and location of the request, and wherein the location indicates a geographical location from which the request is sent.

[0017] In some exemplary embodiments, authenticating the user comprises operations selected from the group consisting of: validating the user and determining the user service privileges and wherein the user service privileges indicate which categories of the database are accessible to the user.

[0018] In some exemplary embodiments, the received information comprises radio frequency identification (RFID) representation indicating animal identification information.

[0019] In some exemplary embodiments, the received information further comprises digital photography representation.

[0020] In some exemplary embodiments, the received information further comprises a digital voice file representing data entry of the user, and wherein the method further comprises converting the voice file to written text in at least one language.

[0021] In some exemplary embodiments, the received information further comprises a representation of global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

[0022] In some exemplary embodiments, the received information further comprises a query from the user.

[0023] In some exemplary embodiments, the received information further comprises information from a database of a different livestock facility.

[0024] In some exemplary embodiments, the received information from the database of the second livestock facility is unusual information.

[0025] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for livestock management, utilizing existing livestock facilities, wherein each facility has a database comprising records and predetermined categories, the method comprising: triggering at least one tracking device, wherein the tracking device is attached to at least one animal of the at least one livestock facility, and wherein the triggering comprises: transmitting a request for information, wherein the required information is a representation of GPS coordinates indicating a geographical location of the at least one animal; logging the request for information in the database; receiving GPS coordinates from the at least one tracking device, wherein the receiving comprises: authenticating the at least one tracking device with a tracking devices record of the database; analyzing the received information for a change compared to a corresponding record; determining if the values, of the analyzed information having a change, exceeds the range of the database, wherein information that exceeds the range is indicated as unusual information; and distributing the unusual information to at least one user of at least one livestock facility. [0026] In some exemplary embodiments, triggering is carried out in response to a request for information service from a user.

[0027] In some exemplary embodiments, the method further comprising: fetching from the database the information requested by the user indicating the geographical location of the at least one animal; producing outcome information indicating the geographical location of the at least one animal from the fetched information; and outputting the outcome information to the user.

[0028] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. In case of conflict, the specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The present disclosed subject matter will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which corresponding or like numerals or characters indicate corresponding or like components. Unless indicated otherwise, the drawings provide exemplary embodiments or aspects of the disclosure and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings:

[0030] - Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a livestock management system, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

[0031] - Fig. 2 shows a flowchart diagram of a method for livestock management, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The disclosed subject matter is described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the subject matter. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

[0033] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

[0034] The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

[0035] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The drawings are generally not to scale. For clarity, non-essential elements were omitted from some of the drawings.

[0036] One aspect of the present invention is providing farmers tending livestock with unified software tools for managing livestock facilities, such as a Livestock Management System (LMS) tool. It should be noted that for sake of reading convenience in this disclosure, the term "farm" refers but not limited to a livestock facility such as a farm, a ranch, a dairy, a slaughterhouse, livestock market, agriculture office, a combination thereof, or the like.

[0037] Another aspect of the invention is to harness unified networking technology as a way for allowing workforce to access corporate networks remotely through a variety of devices, such as smart-phones, tablets, notebook, desktop computers, a combination thereof, or the like. A technical effect of equipping workforce, such as pasture workers, with remote access to a corporate network, such as the Livestock Management System, is to enable real-time access to essential information for decision-makers at all levels in the organization. In some exemplary embodiments, a worker/user may utilize the LMS for obtaining and/or submitting information such as for tracking and monitoring animals; obtaining financial reports; submitting medical reports; present queries, such as inventory queries; a combination thereof, or the like.

[0038] Yet another aspect of the invention is leveraging cloud computing technology as a platform for deploying management system such as the disclosed Livestock Management System. A technical effect of utilizing the LMS on cloud computing platform, such as Amazon Web Services, is the availability of enormous amount of computing and storage resources enabling smooth business scalability of livestock facilities. In some exemplary embodiments, the LMS may support a plurality of livestock facilities engaged in the same field and/or are in the same defined geographic area.

[0039] Another technical effect of hosting the LMS on a cloud computing platform is the ability to interface with an LMS serving a different (foreign) livestock facility, thus allowing data transfer and information sharing locally, regionally and globally. Real time data collection and raw data sharing among livestock management community enables data accessibility for statistical analysis on the fly. Consequently, contributes to better assessment of farm animal populations at a universal level. For example reaction to medicine, climate effect on a specific animal breeds life expectancy, factors affecting stud bulls productivity, livestock business impacts. Additionally or alternatively an indication of an unusual event, such as an epidemic symptoms observation, may be distributed to foreign LMSs of livestock facilities in the region.

[0040] Referring now to Fig. 1 showing a block diagram of a Livestock Management System (LMS) 100, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. An LMS 100 may be a computerized system adapted to perform methods such as depicted in Fig. 2. LMS 100 may provide an end to end information solution to workers/users tending a livestock facility. The LMS 100 allows users, such as farmers, administrators, veterinarians and other personnel tending livestock, to enter, retrieve and manipulate information associated with livestock management.

[0041] In some exemplary embodiments, the information associated with the livestock management may comprise records that are structured for supporting variables, such as animal type, group of animals, herd, location, age, a combination thereof, or the like. Additionally or alternatively, the LMS 100 may be utilized to administer the livestock facility's financials, logistics, equipment maintenance, livestock medical records, livestock birth/death records, a combination thereof, or the like.

[0042] In some exemplary embodiments, LMS 100 may comprise a Data Processing Block (DPB) 140. The DPB 140 may be configured to retrieve, provide, display, process and manipulate information stored in a database of the LMS 100 of a livestock facility.

[0043] In some exemplary embodiments, the DPB 140 may comprise a Livestock Management Processor (LMP) 142. The LMP 142 may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), at least one microprocessor, at least one microcontroller, a combination thereof, or the like.

[0044] In some exemplary embodiments, processing and/or controlling units may be implemented as special firmware ported to a specific device such as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a combination thereof, or the like. In some exemplary embodiments, LMP 142 may be utilized to perform computations, required by the DPB 140 or any of it subcomponents, associated with information of the livestock management system.

[0045] In some exemplary embodiments, the DPB 140 may further comprise a Database Management System (DBMS) 141. In some exemplary embodiments, the DBMS 141 may be persistent or volatile data storage. For example, the DBMS 141 can be a Flash disk, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a memory chip, an optical storage device such as a CD, a DVD, or a laser disk; a magnetic storage device such as a tape, a hard disk, storage area network (SAN), a network attached storage (NAS), or other means; a semiconductor storage device such as Flash device, memory stick, or the like. In some exemplary embodiments, the DBMS 141 may retain a database of the livestock facility, information associated with the livestock management, program code to activate the Livestock Management Processor (LMP) 142 in order to perform operations associated with any of the steps described in Fig. 2.

[0046] In some exemplary embodiments, the DPB 140 comprising a DBMS 141 and a LMP 142, may be deployed in a livestock facility such as a livestock farm office 160. Additionally or alternatively, the DBMS 141 or the LMP 142 or both may be deployed in a cloud-computing platform such as the Amazon Web Services (AWS) which provides data storage and a collection of remote computing services.

[0047] In some exemplary embodiments, a Data Processing Block 140 may be configured to perform computations, associated with the management of the livestock facility. In some exemplary embodiments, these computations may comprise, but not limited to, collecting, sustaining and manipulating information of each animal of the livestock, materials, machinery, equipments, vehicles, manpower, financials, real-estate, feed, pasture, work animals, other farm parameters, a combination thereof, or the like.

[0048] In some exemplary embodiments, these computations may comprise, but not limited to, generating reports of livestock inventory, metrics and statistics, livestock finance, dairy production, livestock health, herds inventory, semen inventory, embryo inventory, pasture inventory, a combination thereof, or the like. Additionally or alternatively such reports generation may be a function of one or more criteria's such as pigs, sheep, camels, cows, bulls, calves heifers, steers, dates, bloodlines, production index, weight, age, sales, purchases, a combination thereof, or the like.

[0049] In some exemplary embodiments, these computations may comprise, but not limited to, generating time tables, schedules, reminders; consolidating reports; sharing reports with similar livestock facilities; providing follow-ups and reports over time; forwarding reports and data to service and material providers, a combination thereof, or the like. [0050] In some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the LMS 100 comprises Input / Output (I/O) devices that may interface with the Data Processing Block (DPB) 140. The I/O devices may be used to transmit and/or receive information and instructions, i.e. exchange information with the DPB 140. The DPB 140 may be configured to interface with a plurality of I/O devices, such as, mobile devices 121, workstations 161, terminals 163, tracking devices 102, gateway 162, a combination thereof, or the like. Additionally or alternatively the DPB 140 may comprise a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) module to communicate with various network elements, such as the LMS 100 I/O devices, foreign LMSs, or the like, over the Internet, i.e. the World Wide Web (WWW) 143, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) 188 network; a combination thereof, or the like. The communication protocols and physical media of a Wide Area Network (WAN) connectivity may vary from one I/O device to another. In some exemplary embodiments, I/O devices such as tracking devices 102 and mobile devices 121 may establish connectivity to the Internet and the DPB 140 over the GPRS 188 wireless communication, while a gateway such as gateway 162 may aggregate traffic of I/O devices in its Local Area Network (LAN) and connect to the Internet (WWW 143) and the DPB 140 over standard CAT- 5 cables.

[0051] In some exemplary embodiments, the I/O devices may be used by a user, such as user 120 to interface with the LMS 100, for retrieving, providing and manipulating information. Users 120 tending animals of the livestock facility in a farm premises or in a remote pasture location may be equipped with mobile devices such as mobile device 121, or the like. The mobile device 121 may comprise components such as GPRS communication, Wi-Fi communication, GPS navigation, digital camera, Radio-Frequency identification (RFID) reader, and digital voice recorder. In some exemplary embodiments, the mobile device 121 may be a mobile device such as a smartphone, a tablet, a notebook, or the like

[0052] The user's duties may include monitoring the status of the animals; performing relevant animal-care services and submitting a service report to the livestock farm office 160. As an example the user may find a cow in a remote location that just gave birth to a newborn calf. The user 120 may utilize the mobile device 121 to identify the mother cow, determine its exact location (e.g. using the built-in GPS) and report all the relevant information. In some exemplary embodiments the user 120 may utilize the mobile device to: identify the cow by reading its passive RFID tag 103; capture digital photos to document the condition of the cow and the calf; utilize the mobile device GPS capabilities to analyze GPS signals received from GPS satellites, such as GPS 182, and determine the GPS coordinates (i.e. the exact location); enter alphanumeric information that describes the event, a combination thereof, or the like. Additionally or alternatively the user may utilize a microphone 122 as an alternative means for entering alphanumeric information to the mobile device. Additionally or alternatively the user may identify the animal by typing its Animal Identification (AID) tag 101 information to the mobile device 121.

[0053] In some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the user may utilize the mobile device 121 to upload recently acquired information over the GPRS network, thus accurately submitting a service report in real time. It is appreciated that real time information uploads may be crucial in emergency events that require immediate attention or reporting to neighboring farms of events such as disease or predator in their pasture vicinity.

[0054] In some exemplary embodiments, such as the event described in the previous example where the event is taking place in a remote location, the user 120 may utilize the mobile device 121 to obtain data, from the LMS 100, and display information relevant to the caretaking of the cow. Additionally or alternatively, the user may utilize the mobile device 121 for seeking instructions or consultation regarding the handling of the event.

[0055] It should be noted that most countries use animal identification marking to identify and track specific animals. It is done for a variety of reasons including verification of ownership, biosecurity control, tracking for research or agricultural purposes, a combination thereof, or the like. The most common methods for marking farm animals such as sheep, pigs, horses and cattle may be electronic collars, non-electronic collars, electronic ear tags, non-electronic ear tags, tattoos, branding, a combination thereof, or the like.

[0056] In some exemplary embodiments, a tracking device 102 may be used. The tracking device 102 may be a battery operated device attached to the animal's ear, collar, or the like. The tracking device 102 may be configured to receive signals from GPS 182, determining its (animal) GPS coordinate and transmitting the coordinate to the LMS 100 over the GPRS network. As an example, certain calves of the herd may require a vaccination and they may be scattered in a large pasture area, therefore it is necessary to locate the calves prior to dispatching a vaccination technician. In some embodiments, the tracking device 102 may be in a sleep mode, for battery power saving purpose, yet the tracking devices 102 may be tuned to a GPRS beacon frequency. In order to obtain a specific calf location, the LMS 100 may transmit over the GPRS network a unique beacon code of the specific calf to trigger the specific calf tracking device 102, consequently the tracking device 102 determines its GPS coordinates, transmit the coordinates back to LMS 100 and return to sleep mode.

[0057] In some embodiments, the LMS 100 may comprise I/O devices, such as the workstation 161, for interfacing with the DPB 140. At least one workstation 161 may be deployed in a Livestock Farm Office 160 so as to allow users of the farm to provide, retrieve and manipulate the LMS information. In some embodiments, the workstation 161 may be used, by users having appropriate access privileges, as a workstation for data entry, establishing records, managing and updating information associated with livestock of the LMS 100 database. In some exemplary embodiments, the workstation 161 may be used, by users having different access privileges, as a workstation for data entry, records establishing, managing and updating information associated with finance, sales, marketing and logistics of the LMS 100 database. Additionally or alternatively each user of the workstation 161 may obtain reports from LMS 100 database according to the user access privilege.

[0058] In some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, a gateway 162 may be deployed at the livestock farm office 160. The gateway 162 may route information between a Local Area Network (LAN) elements and a Wide Area Network (WAN). The WAN may be the Internet such as WWW 143; a large computer such as the embodiment of local deployed of DPB 140. WAN connectivity may be provided through DSL, cable modem, a broadband mobile phone network, a combination thereof, or the like. The gateway 162 may support a plurality of LAN elements such as workstation 161, terminal 163, mobile devices 121, a network printer (not shown in Fig. 1), or the like. It should be noted that LAN connectivity may be provided through an Ethernet cable, Wi-Fi, a combination thereof, or the like.

[0059] In some exemplary embodiments, a user may utilize the Wi-Fi connectivity of his mobile device to upload information stored in the mobile device through gateway 162 to the LMS, thus accurately submitting a service report. Additionally or alternatively a user may utilize the mobile device 121 for displaying information obtained over Wi-Fi connectivity.

[0060] In some exemplary embodiments, a network element such as terminal 163 may be used. Terminal 163 may be a livestock weigh scale, RFID reader, sow feeding equipment, dairy processing equipment, veterinarian computer, warehouse data entry terminal, or the like. Connectivity for terminals (network elements), such as terminal 163, may be provided through an Ethernet cable, Wi-Fi, a combination thereof, or the like. In some exemplary embodiments, a terminal 163 may be used as an automatic data acquisition device, such as for example, from a system configured to read the animal RFID tag and measure its weight. Additionally or alternatively a terminal may be a data entry device configured to obtain information manually entered by a user, such as for example the animal AID Tag 101, and the animal weight.

[0061] Referring now to Figure 2, showing a flowchart diagram of a method in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

[0062] In step 210, a Livestock Management System (LMS) may be configured to establish a database of a farm. The LMS may be configured for obtaining relevant information associated with the farm capacity and activities. In some exemplary embodiments, at least one farm server, such as DPB 140 of Fig. 1 may be configured. The configuration may comprise installing LMS software on registered client devices such as terminal 163, workstation 161, tracking devices 102, mobile devices 121, of Fig. 1, or the like. In addition, the configuration may include registering authorized users in accordance to their access privileges. In some exemplary embodiment, step 210 comprises defining the farm type of products and services such as mother-calf operation, fattening operation, sheep, pigs, a combination thereof, or the like. Additionally or alternatively step 210 may comprise farm definitions such as production inputs, production equipment, production facilities, real-estate, customers, types of livestock inventory, supply chain, logistics inventory, a combination thereof, or the like. Additionally or alternatively step 210 may comprise creating a menu for reports based on predetermined queries; creating work planes per type of activities; teaching a voice recognition software to identify the voices of users, or the like.

[0063] In step 220, LMS database records may be created. In some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, an individual information record for each animal of the livestock may comprise animal information such as type, breed, photo, certified ID, Ear tag ID ,RFID code, name, date of birth, parents IDs, surrogate mother ID, birth weight, nursing information, date and weight of weaning, date and weight at purchase, date of sale, merchant info, date and cause of death, date and cause of morbidity, medication, date and type of vaccination, examination date and results, location, group, herd, health condition score and date, a combination thereof, or the like.

[0064] Additionally or alternatively a group information records of the livestock may be created. The group information record may comprise the records of all the animals that fit the group category. Each group may be labeled according to its category, such as for example: new animal, bull, cow, calf, heifer, age, breed, location, type of food, herd, pigs, sheep, a combination thereof, or the like. It should be noted that an animal may be a member of at least one group. Similarly, additional database records may be created in step 220 for each working animal, equipment, employee, user's digital voice recognition file, production facility, real- estate, customer, financing activity, finished goods, service, production input, logistics input, or the like.

[0065] It should be noted that each element in a record of the database has an assign category which define the element range of values or boundaries, such as for example a limited area of pasture, medical parameters, or the like.

[0066] In some exemplary embodiments, the creation of database records in step 220 may involve manual data entry of records information by at least one workstation, such as workstation 161 of Fig.l. Additionally or alternatively existing database records may be uploaded to the LMS from another computer, memory media such as a Flash disk, a CD, a DVD, a hard disk, a NAS, a network server, or the like. In some exemplary embodiments, the LMS may utilize existing databases stored in a different storage facility. Additionally or alternatively, records information may be directly inserted by reading an RFID tag data, such as RFID Tag 103, by mobile devices 121 as depicted in Fig. 1. Optionally, step 220 may be completed by updating database DBMS 141 of Fig. 1.

[0067] In Step 250, a user, such as user 120 of Fig. 1, may initiate a service request to the LMS. The service request may be a request to obtain information, report information or both. The user may communicate the request to the Livestock Management Processor (LMP) 142, of Fig. 1, from a network element such as mobile devices 121, workstations 161, terminals 163, as depicted in Fig.1 , a combination thereof, or the like.

[0068] In Step 251 a request may be obtained and authenticated. In some exemplary embodiments, the service request may be initiated by a user; a native network element of the LMS, as depicted in Fig. 1 ; a foreign LMS, another computerized domain, or the like. LMP 142 may obtain the service request, time it and register it to its log, in addition to authenticating that the user and the network element are trusted by the LMS.

[0069] In Step 252, a request may be determined. In some exemplary embodiments, LMP 142 may analyze the request and determine if it is a request for transmitting information, receiving information or both. Consequently LMP 142 may enable the appropriate communication path for transmitting and or receiving information. In some exemplary embodiments the communication path may be LAN, WAN, GPRS, a combination thereof, or the like.

[0070] In Step 253, inputted information may be received. In some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, LMP 142 may be configured to receive information from a trusted computer domain, such as; a foreign LMS, or the like; a network elements and users as depicted in Fig. 1.

[0071] In the previous example where the user found a cow that gave birth. The user may utilize his mobile device capabilities to input information, such as for example, by reading the cow's RFID tag, capturing photos of the cow and her calf, obtaining GPS coordinates, entering alphanumeric data, digital voice recording, submitting service requests to the LMS, or the like. After obtaining, the user's request, logging and authenticating the user and his mobile device, the LMP 142 may enable a GPRS path for receiving the user inputted information followed by acknowledge message.

[0072] In Step 254, information may be communicated, analyzed, processed, and fetched from a database deposited to a database, a combination thereof, or the like. In some exemplary embodiments, LMP 142, of Fig. 1 may receive information; such as daily report, digital photographs, GPS coordinates digital voice files, a combination thereof, or the like. Following receiving the information LMP 142 may process the information and update a database such as the DBMS 141 of Fig. 1, by depositing the processed information in applicable records. Additionally or alternatively LMP 142 may utilize a voice recognition software for converting the recoded digital voice files of the users to at least one written language and authenticating the voice with the users database.

[0073] In some exemplary embodiments, following the obtained information analysis, LMP 142 may determine that an element value of the information exceeded the associated category predefined range of values and label the information as an "Unusual Information". Additionally or alternatively, the unusual information may be labeled as critical unusual information and consequently the LMP 142 distributes the unusual information by transmitting the information to all relevant users including neighboring farms, veterinarian's agriculture authorities, a combination thereof, or the like. In some exemplary embodiments, unusual information may be such as disease or predator in their pasture vicinity, or the like.

[0074] In some exemplary embodiments, LMP 142 may be utilized to fetch information from the database, process the information and transmit an outcome to users, network elements, or the like. The outcome may be information adopted for presentation on the user's network element or a printer. In some exemplary embodiments, the outcome may be a work plan, a map indicating a particular location, a schedule, answers to inventory query, a report, a combination thereof, or the like. In some exemplary embodiments, multiple service requests from one user and or multiple requests from multiple users at the same time may be prioritized. The LMP 142 may determine the priorities by the order in which they been received or by predefined category set by a system administrator.

[0075] In step 255, information outcome may be transmitted. In some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, LMP 142 may be configured to transmit outcome information to users, network elements of the LMS and trusted foreign computerized domains. As an example, a user may receive a monthly sales report that includes information such as, selling price per kg live body weight by fields such as: specie, breed, group, industry, date, age group, weight, a combination thereof, or the like. The outcome information may be transmitted and displayed on the user's mobile device screen, a workstation screen a printed, a combination thereof, or the like.

[0076] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of program code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0077] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0078] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. [0079] The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

[0080] The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only

[0081] memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.

[0082] Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. [0083] Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state- setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, python, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PL A) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

[0084] Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.

[0085] These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

[0086] The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

[0087] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Claims

1. A livestock management system for a first livestock and a second livestock facility having a plurality of animals, the system comprising:

a data processing block configured to process data associated with the first livestock facility;

a plurality of animal identification components, wherein each identification component comprises a unique identifying information, and wherein each identification component is attached to a single animal from the first livestock facility; and

at least one network element configured to interface between a user and said data processing block,

wherein the plurality of network elements is further configured to obtain the unique identifying information of animals, and wherein said livestock management system of the first livestock facility is configured to exchange information with a livestock management system of a second livestock facility.

2. The system of Claim 1, wherein the data processing block is hosted in a cloud processing platform.

3. The system of Claim 2, wherein the plurality of network elements is selected from the group consisting of: a smart phone; tracking device; notebook computer; network printer; tablet; and a desktop computer.

4. The system of Claim 2, wherein each identification component is selected from the group consisting of: a tracking device; a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; and a livestock ear tag.

5. The system of Claim 2, wherein the at least one network element is further configured to perform operations selected from the group consisting of: receive a global positioning system (GPS) satellite signal; determine its GPS coordinates; read the passive RFID tag; and display information to the user.

6. The system of Claim 5, wherein the plurality of network elements is further configured to perform operations selected from the group consisting of: obtaining digital photographs; digital voice recording; and conversion of a digital voice record to written text in at least one language.

7. The system of Claim 2, wherein the at least one network element comprises communication components.

8. The system of Claim 2, wherein the at least one network element is further configured to allow communication with said data processing block over the internet.

9. The system of Claim 2, wherein a first network element of the plurality of network elements is configured to allow communication with a second network element of the plurality of network elements, and wherein the first network element and the second network element are configured to communicate over networks selected from the group consisting of: a wide area network, and a local area network.

10. A method for livestock management, utilizing existing livestock facilities, wherein each facility has a database comprising records and predefined categories having a range of values, the method comprising:

obtaining a request for information service from a user;

receiving information having values from the user;

analyzing the received information for a change compared to a corresponding record in said database;

determining if the values, of the analyzed information having a change, exceeds the range of said database, wherein information that exceeds the range is indicated as unusual information; distributing the unusual information to at least one user of at least one livestock facility;

fetching from said database the information requested by the user;

producing outcome information from the fetched information; and

outputting the outcome information to the user.

11. The method of Claim 10, wherein said obtaining the request further comprises prioritizing requests in the order in which they arrive.

12. The method of Claim 10, wherein said obtaining further comprises:

logging the request for information in said database; and

authenticating the user with a users record of said database

13. The method of Claim 12, wherein said logging the request comprises registering data selected from the group consisting of: date, time and location of the request, and wherein the location indicates a geographical location from which the request is sent.

14. The method of Claim 12, wherein said authenticating the user comprises operations selected from the group consisting of: validating the user and determining the user service privileges, and wherein the user service privileges indicates which categories of said database are accessible to the user.

15. The method of Claim 10, wherein the received information comprises radio frequency identification (RFID) representation indicating animal identification information.

16. The method of Claim 15, wherein the received information further comprises digital photography representation.

17. The method of Claim 15, wherein the received information further comprises a digital voice file representing data entry of the user, and wherein the method further comprises converting the voice file to written text in at least one language.

18. The method of Claim 15, wherein the received information further comprises a representation of global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

19. The method of Claim 15, wherein the received information further comprises a query from the user.

20. The method of Claim 15, wherein the received information further comprises information from a database of a different livestock facility.

21. The method of Claim 20, wherein the received information from the database of the second livestock facility is unusual information.

22. A method for livestock management, utilizing existing livestock facilities, wherein each facility has a database comprising records and predetermined categories, the method comprising:

triggering at least one tracking device, wherein the tracking device is attached to at least one animal of the at least one livestock facility, and wherein said triggering comprises:

transmitting a request for information, wherein the required information is a representation of GPS coordinates indicating a geographical location of the at least one animal;

logging the request for information in said database;

receiving GPS coordinates from the at least one tracking device, wherein said receiving comprises:

authenticating the at least one tracking device with a tracking devices record of said database; analyzing the received information for a change compared to a corresponding record;

determining if the values, of the analyzed information having a change, exceeds the range of said database, wherein information that exceeds the range is indicated as unusual information; and

distributing the unusual information to at least one user of at least one livestock facility.

23. The method of Claim 22, wherein said triggering is carried out in response to a request for information service from a user.

24. The method of Claim 23, further comprising:

fetching from said database the information requested by the user indicating the geographical location of the at least one animal;

producing outcome information indicating the geographical location of the at least one animal from the fetched information; and

outputting the outcome information to the user.