JP3774120B2 - Livestock management system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to meat livestock management system for managing livestock such as cows for feeding to edible.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Meat is indispensable in today's Japanese diet, and many types of meat are sold at grocery stores such as supermarkets. In order to produce such meat, various livestock such as cows and pigs are bred.
[0003]
Among beef meats, especially beef, so-called marbled meat in which white fat is mixed with red meat is regarded as high-quality meat. One important factor that determines the taste of marbled meat is the proportion of white fat. In addition, not only marinated meat but also how fat is attached to red meat is an important factor that affects meat quality.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Traditionally, how to apply fat to red meat has been left to the experience of genetic data (pedigree) of livestock producers raising livestock such as cattle. In effect, the cows are slaughtered and processed into meat. It was something that could be confirmed for the first time.
[0005]
However, it is extremely difficult for an inexperienced person to estimate the meat quality by estimating how fat is attached to red meat from live cows. Moreover, even an experienced livestock producer has not made an attempt to quantitatively grasp how fat is attached and use it as statistical data for the management of livestock. For this reason, it is very difficult to breed livestock with the desired meat quality by judging how to apply fat from livestock, especially for inexperienced ones. It was.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a livestock management system capable of how attached fat for lean statistically grasped help feeding management of livestock.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is a livestock management system for managing livestock to be edible for meat, in which a body fat percentage measuring means for measuring the body fat percentage of livestock, Database storage means for storing a breeding database in which breeding data is accumulated, and at least the body fat percentage is included in the breeding database as breeding data.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the livestock management system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the feed database includes feed information about feed fed to livestock as feed data associated with the body fat percentage. Yes.
[0009]
Further, the invention of claim 3 is the livestock management system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the meat quality information indicating evaluation of the meat quality of the livestock is associated with the body fat percentage in the breeding database. It is included as data.
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the livestock management system according to any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, the livestock is attached with a recording member that records individual identification information including gender and age, The body fat percentage measuring means reads the weighing means for weighing the livestock to be measured, the length measuring means for measuring the body length of the livestock, and the individual identification information recorded on the recording member attached to the livestock. Reading means; bioimpedance measuring means for measuring bioimpedance of the livestock; and body fat percentage calculating means for calculating a body fat percentage based on the body weight, body length, sex, age and bioimpedance of the livestock. Yes.
[0011]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the livestock management system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the bioelectrical impedance measuring means includes an electrode group having a plurality of electrodes for measuring the bioelectrical impedance, and the electrode group is Pressing means for pressing and contacting the skin.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
<1. Overall structure of livestock management system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a livestock management system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the livestock management system of FIG. This livestock management system is a system that measures the body fat percentage of cattle and manages it as cattle feeding data, and mainly includes a livestock peel 10 and a data management server 40. The livestock peel 10 is installed in a barn or the like, and the data management server 40 is installed in a ranch management office or the like.
[0015]
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the livestock peel 10. The livestock hakari 10 is a hakari for calculating the body fat percentage by measuring the weight, length, etc. of the cow, and has an entrance ramp 12 on the front side of the measuring passage 11 and an exit ramp 13 on the rear side. A fence 14 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the measuring passage 11. The cow walks as shown by an arrow AR3 in FIG. 3 and enters the livestock hakari 10 from the entrance ramp 12 and exits from the exit ramp 13 after the measurement.
[0016]
The measuring passage 11 is a long member whose longitudinal direction is the direction of travel of the cow (the direction of the arrow AR3 in FIG. 3), and a measuring unit 20 made of a load cell is provided inside thereof. When the cow is made to enter the livestock hakari 10 and the whole is placed on the weighing passage 11, the weighing unit 20 can measure the weight of the cow.
[0017]
A stop door 15 that can be opened and closed is provided between the two fences 14 at the end of the measuring passage 11 (the side close to the exit ramp 13). One fence 14 is provided with a guide plate 16 along the direction of travel of the cow, and the other fence 14 is provided with a reflecting plate 17 so as to face the guide plate 16. The guide plate 16 is provided with a length measuring portion 18 slidable by a slide drive mechanism (not shown). The length measuring unit 18 is an optical detection type length measuring device including a light projecting element and a light receiving element. The length measuring unit 18 emits light toward the reflector 17 along the width direction of the measuring path 11. It can move along the longitudinal direction. The light emitted from the length measuring unit 18 is reflected by the reflecting plate 17 and received by the length measuring unit 18.
[0018]
When measuring the length of the cow, the cow to be measured is entered into the measuring passage 11 with the stop door 15 closed, and is brought into contact with the stop door 15. In a state where the cow is in contact with the stop door 15, the length measuring unit 18 emits light toward the reflecting plate 17 while sliding along the guide plate 16. Then, the length measuring unit 18 stops at the boundary position between the region where the reflected light from the reflecting plate 17 can be received and the region where the reflected light cannot be received, and from the end of the guide plate 16 (the end close to the stop door 15) Measure the distance to the boundary position. The distance measured in this way is the length of the cow. Note that the length measuring unit 18 may have only a distance measuring function, and the movement and stop thereof may be manually performed by an operator.
[0019]
Further, the livestock peel 10 has a tag recognition unit 19 attached to the fence 14. The tag recognizing unit 19 reads the individual identification information transmitted from a non-contact ID tag, which will be described later, suspended from the neck of a cow entering the measuring passage 11 and recognizes the contents. In addition, in FIG. 3, although the tag recognition part 19 is attached to the fence 14 by the side which provided the reflecting plate 17, it is not limited to this, The non-contact of the cow which has entered the measurement channel | path 11 As long as the information transmitted from the ID tag can be read, the attachment position of the tag recognition unit 19 is arbitrary.
[0020]
In addition, a bioelectrical impedance measuring unit 30 is connected to the livestock peel 10. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the bioimpedance measurement unit 30. The bioimpedance measuring unit 30 is configured by attaching an electrode group including four electrodes 32, 32, 33, and 33 for measuring bioimpedance to a flexible collar 31. It is desirable that the shape of the heel portion 31 be along the back of the cow. Of the four electrodes, the electrodes 32 and 32 are a pair of current path forming electrodes for forming a current path between two points of the cow's body, and the electrodes 33 and 33 are used to set a voltage between the two points of the current path. It is a pair of voltage measurement electrodes for measurement. These four electrodes 32, 32, 33, 33 are connected to a known impedance measurement circuit provided in the measuring passage 11 of the livestock peel 10, and the impedance measurement circuit uses the bioimpedance of the cow to be measured. Is measured.
[0021]
The bioimpedance measurement unit 30 includes four weights 35 suspended from the collar unit 31. The four weights 35 are for pressing and contacting the electrode group (four electrodes 32, 32, 33, 33) against the cow's skin when the buttocks 31 are placed on the cow's back. Usually, the skin of the cow is covered with hair, but the four electrodes 32, 32, 33, 33 are formed by bending the buttock 31 with the four weights 35 and pressing the electrode group against the skin of the cow. It can be surely brought into contact with bovine skin.
[0022]
Further, the livestock peel 10 includes a body fat percentage calculation unit 25 inside the measurement passage 11. The body fat percentage calculating unit 25 is electrically connected to each of the measuring unit 20, the length measuring unit 18, the tag recognizing unit 19, and the bioelectrical impedance measuring unit 30 described above, and based on signals transmitted from them Calculate body fat percentage.
[0023]
The livestock peel 10 is connected to the data management server 40 via a LAN line or the like. The data management server 40 is configured using a computer and includes an input unit 42 and a display unit 41 in addition to a main body unit 43 incorporating a CPU and a memory. The display unit 41 is configured by a liquid crystal or CRT display. The input unit 42 includes a keyboard and a mouse (only the keyboard is shown in FIG. 1). An operator who uses the data management server 40 can input necessary commands and data from the input unit 42 while confirming the contents displayed on the display unit 41.
[0024]
The main body 43 includes a data management unit 45 and a magnetic disk 46. In addition to the processing software of the data management server 40, a breeding database 50 is stored on the magnetic disk 46. Although the breeding database 50 will be described in detail later, it is a database that accumulates breeding data on cattle. The data management unit 45 is a processing unit realized by the CPU in the main body 43 based on the processing software of the data management server 40, receives various data from the livestock peel 10, and receives the breeding database 50 in the magnetic disk 46. The processing unit performs management of the breeding database 50 such as access to the breeding database 50 from the input unit 42 and display of the breeding database 50 on the display unit 41.
[0025]
In this embodiment, the livestock peel 10 corresponds to the body fat percentage measuring means, the magnetic disk 46 corresponds to the database storage means, the weight 35 corresponds to the pressing means, and the non-contact ID tag 29 described later corresponds to the recording member. .
[0026]
<2. Operation of livestock management system>
Next, the operation of the livestock management system having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of an operation mode of the livestock management system according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the operation mode of the livestock management system described above is to measure the body fat percentage and the like of cattle reared on the ranch with the livestock hakari 10 and to feed the measured feeding data such as the body fat percentage. It is collected by the management server 40 and accumulated as a breeding database 50, and breeding management such as adjustment of feed to be given to cattle is performed based on the breeding database 50. Hereinafter, these will be described in order.
[0027]
First, the cow's body fat percentage and the like are measured by the livestock peel 10. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how the body fat percentage of cows is measured. The structure of the livestock peel 10 is as described above (see FIGS. 2 and 3). In order to measure the body fat percentage of a cow, it is necessary to obtain data on the weight, length, age (or age), sex and bioimpedance of the cow to be measured. This is done.
[0028]
When measuring the body fat percentage of a cow, the cow to be measured is allowed to walk and enter the measuring passage 11 of the livestock peel 10 and contact the stop door 15. By allowing the cow to enter the weighing passage 11, the weight of the cow can be weighed by the weighing unit 20 provided therein. In addition, the length measuring unit 18 can measure the length of the cow while the cow is in contact with the stop door 15. The cow length measurement method is as described above. Of course, various known techniques other than the above can be adopted as a technique for measuring the weight and length of a cow.
[0029]
In addition, a non-contact ID tag 29 is suspended from the neck of each cow raised on the ranch. In the non-contact ID tag 29, in order to identify a large number of cows, individual identification information including the ID number (identification number), age, age, sex, etc. of the cow that is suspending it is written in the form of electronic data. It is. The non-contact ID tag 29 transmits individual identification information such as an ID number, age, age, sex, etc. written on the electromagnetic wave with a predetermined frequency.
[0030]
When the cow with the non-contact ID tag 29 suspended is entered into the measuring passage 11 of the livestock hakari 10, the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the non-contact ID tag 29 is received by the tag recognition unit 19, and the non-contact ID tag 29 receives the electromagnetic waves. The written ID number, age, month, sex, and other information are recognized by the tag recognition unit 19. Thereby, the data about the age (or age) and sex of a cow will be acquired. By automatically reading the individual identification information written in the non-contact ID tag 29 by the tag recognition unit 19, the body fat percentage measurement of the cow becomes easier.
[0031]
Further, the bioimpedance is measured by placing the bioimpedance measuring unit 30 (FIG. 4) on the back of the cow to be measured. The configuration of the bioimpedance measuring unit 30 is as described above. When this is placed on the back of the cow, the heel part 31 is bent by the four weights 35, and the electrode group (four electrodes 32, 32, 33, 33) becomes the cow. Pressed against the skin. As a result, each of the four electrodes 32, 32, 33, 33 comes into close contact with the skin of the cow, and when energized in this state, the bioimpedance of the cow can be stably and reliably measured. As a result, an accurate body fat percentage can be measured. In addition, in order to improve the contact property with respect to the skin of the cow of the electrodes 32, 32, 33, 33, you may make it form an unevenness | corrugation in the surface of each electrode 32, 32, 33, 33. FIG.
[0032]
As described above, data on the weight, body length, age (or age), sex, and bioelectrical impedance of the cow to be measured is acquired, and based on these, the body fat percentage calculating unit 25 calculates the body fat percentage of the cow. calculate. As a specific method for calculating the body fat percentage, a storage table of the body fat percentage calculating section 25 shows a conversion table indicating the correlation between the bioelectrical impedance and the body fat percentage for each weight, body length, age (or age), and sex of the cow. The body fat percentage corresponding to the bioimpedance measured from the conversion table may be obtained from the conversion table. Note that the method of calculating body fat percentage is not limited to the form obtained from the conversion table, and stores the arithmetic expressions and coefficients necessary for the storage unit and calculates the body fat percentage from the arithmetic expressions. Anyway.
[0033]
In this way, data on the body fat percentage and the like measured by the livestock peel 10 are sequentially transmitted to the data management server 40. Then, the data management unit 45 of the data management server 40 accumulates the feeding data regarding the body fat percentage and the like that has been examined, and constructs the feeding database 50 in the magnetic disk 46.
[0034]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the breeding database 50. The breeding database 50 of the present embodiment is a database that accumulates breeding data about cattle. Here, “feeding data” is a general term for data related to cattle feeding. In this embodiment, each item of FIG. 7, that is, “ID number”, “age”, “month”, “sex”, “ Includes “weight”, “length”, “body fat percentage”, “feed”, “meat quality”. The breeding database 50 is constructed by accumulating the above breeding data for each cow raised on the ranch.
[0035]
The ID number, age, age, sex, weight, body length, and body fat percentage of each of the above breeding data are transmitted from the livestock hakari 10 to the data management server 40, and the data management unit 45 adds to the feeding database 50 or Update. On the other hand, the feed and meat quality are input by the operator from the input unit 42 to the data management server 40, and the data management unit 45 adds or updates the feed database 50. Note that “meat quality” is breeding data that is evaluated by processing meat into meat after slaughter of cattle, and therefore cannot be input during cattle breeding. In addition, “feed” may be written in the non-contact ID tag 29 and automatically read by the tag recognition unit 19 in the same manner as sex.
[0036]
Such a breeding database 50 is displayed on the display unit 41 by the data management unit 45 in response to a command input from the operator. By looking at the breeding database 50 displayed on the display unit 41, the worker can grasp the body fat percentage in addition to the weight and length of the live cows raised on the ranch. That is, since the breeding database 50 includes the “body fat percentage” as the breeding data, even if the cow is alive, even if he is not a skilled animal farmer, the body fat percentage is an index of how fat is attached to red meat. It can be grasped quantitatively. And the breeding management of a cow can be performed based on the grasped body fat rate. Specifically, for example, breeding is performed to reduce fat for cows whose body fat percentage is larger than the target value, and conversely fat for cows whose body fat percentage is smaller than the target value. Rearing to increase
[0037]
Moreover, the breeding database 50 includes feed information regarding feed given to the cow as breeding data associated with the body fat percentage. That is, “body fat percentage” and “feed” are recorded for each cow, and the correspondence between the feed given to the cow and the body fat percentage can be grasped from the feeding database 50. For example, for the cow with ID number “C0004”, it was found that the body fat percentage was 26% when the feed of “A3” was given. Therefore, it is possible to statistically grasp the correlation between the feed to be fed to the cow and the body fat percentage, and it is possible to carry out finer breeding management of the cow based on the grasped correlation. Specifically, for example, for a cow whose body fat percentage is larger than the target value, a feed that tends to decrease the body fat percentage is given, and conversely, the body fat percentage is too small than the target value. Beef should be fed with a tendency to increase body fat percentage.
[0038]
Moreover, the breeding database 50 includes meat quality information indicating an evaluation of the meat quality of the cow as breeding data associated with the body fat percentage. That is, “body fat percentage” and “meat quality” are recorded for each cow, and the correspondence between the body fat percentage of the cow and the meat quality can be grasped from the breeding database 50. For example, the cow with ID number “C0001” has a body fat percentage of 32% and the meat quality is “excellent”, and the cow with ID number “C0003” has a body fat percentage of 18%. It can be seen that the meat quality is “OK”. Therefore, it is possible to statistically grasp the correlation between the body fat percentage of the cow and the meat quality, and to carry out finer breeding management of the cow based on the grasped correlation. You can keep your own cows. Specifically, for example, the feed to be fed is adjusted so that the body fat percentage of the cow being raised approaches the body fat percentage of a cow having good quality meat.
[0039]
Further, by statistically grasping the correlation between the body fat percentage of the cow and the meat quality, the cow can live only by measuring the body fat percentage of the cow as in this embodiment, even if it is not a skilled animal husband. You can easily predict the meat quality when you are.
[0040]
<3. Modification>
While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above examples. In the above embodiment, the electrode group (four electrodes 32, 32, 33, 33) is pressed against the skin of the cow by the four weights 35, but the pressing means of the electrode group is limited to this. Instead, for example, a spring may be attached to the collar 31 and the electrode group may be pressed against the skin of the cow by bending the collar 31 with the spring. Moreover, you may make it apply | coat the adhesive agent which has electroconductivity on the surface of the electrodes 32, 32, 33, 33. FIG.
[0041]
Further, the feeding data such as the body fat percentage measured every certain period may be additionally recorded in the feeding database 50 sequentially. At this time, it is more preferable to additionally record the feed given during the period. If the breeding database 50 is constructed by additionally recording the breeding data in this way, it is possible to grasp from the breeding database 50 the body fat percentage change history of the cow and the body fat percentage change caused by changing the feed.
[0042]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where a cow was managed was demonstrated as an example, it is not limited to this, For example, if it is the domestic animal raised in order to make meat, such as pig, sheep, and horse, The technology according to the present invention can be applied.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, since the breeding database includes at least the body fat percentage of livestock as breeding data, it is an index of how fat is attached to red meat, even if it is not a skilled livestock farmer. The body fat percentage can be grasped quantitatively, and livestock management of livestock can be performed based on the grasped body fat percentage.
[0044]
Further, according to the invention of claim 2, since the feeding database includes feed information about the feed given to the livestock as feeding data associated with the body fat percentage, the correlation between the feed given to the livestock and the body fat percentage It can be statistically grasped, and more detailed livestock management can be performed based on the grasped correlation.
[0045]
Further, according to the invention of claim 3, since the breeding database includes the meat quality information indicating the evaluation of the meat quality of the livestock as the breeding data associated with the body fat percentage, the correlation between the body fat percentage of the livestock and the meat quality is obtained. It can be statistically grasped, and based on the grasped correlation, it is possible to carry out finer livestock management, and as a result, livestock having good quality meat can be bred.
[0046]
According to the invention of claim 4, the body fat percentage measuring means is a measuring means for measuring the weight of the livestock to be measured, a length measuring means for measuring the body length of the livestock, and a recording member attached to the livestock. A body fat percentage that calculates body fat percentage based on the body weight, body length, sex, age and bioimpedance of the livestock. Therefore, the body fat percentage of livestock can be easily measured by reading the sex and age of livestock from the recording member.
[0047]
According to the invention of claim 5, the bioimpedance measuring means comprises: an electrode group having a plurality of electrodes for measuring bioimpedance; and a pressing means that presses the electrode group against the skin of livestock and makes contact therewith. Therefore, the pressing means brings the electrode group into close contact with the skin of the livestock, so that the bioimpedance can be measured stably and reliably, and as a result, the accurate body fat percentage can be measured.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a livestock management system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the livestock management system of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a livestock peel of the livestock management system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a bioelectrical impedance measurement unit.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of an operation mode of a livestock management system according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how to measure the body fat percentage of cows.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a breeding database.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Domestic livelihood 11 Measuring path 18 Measuring part 19 Tag recognition part 20 Measuring part 25 Body fat percentage calculation part 29 Non-contact ID tag 30 Bioimpedance measuring part 32, 33 Electrode 35 Weight 40 Data management server 45 Data management part 50 Breeding The database

Claims (5)

A livestock management system for managing livestock to be edible for eating meat,
Body fat percentage measuring means for measuring the body fat percentage of livestock;
Database storage means for storing a breeding database that accumulates breeding data on livestock;
With
The livestock management system, wherein the feeding database includes at least the body fat percentage as feeding data. The livestock management system according to claim 1,
The livestock management system, wherein the feed database includes feed information about feed given to livestock as feed data associated with the body fat percentage. In the livestock management system according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The breeding database includes meat quality information indicating evaluation of meat quality of livestock as breeding data associated with the body fat percentage. In the livestock management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
For livestock, a recording member that records individual identification information including its gender and age is attached,
The body fat percentage measuring means includes
A weighing means for weighing the weight of the livestock to be measured;
A length measuring means for measuring the length of the livestock;
Reading means for reading the individual identification information recorded on the recording member attached to the livestock,
Bioimpedance measuring means for measuring the bioimpedance of the livestock,
A body fat percentage calculating means for calculating a body fat percentage based on the weight, body length, sex, age and bioimpedance of the livestock;
A livestock management system comprising: The livestock management system according to claim 4,
The bioimpedance measuring means includes
An electrode group having a plurality of electrodes for measuring the bioimpedance;
A pressing means for pressing and bringing the electrode group into contact with the skin of livestock;
A livestock management system comprising:

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