US5458418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for detecting poor meat quality in live animals
Assignee: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
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Filing: 1993-07-02
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Granted: 1995-10-17
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Expires: 2013-07-02
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides methods of detecting poor meat quality in live animals using infrared thermography. In cattle, animals whose thermographs are predominantly outside the test temperature range, 28 DEG -32 DEG +/-2 DEG C., are rejected as having a high probability of producing poor meat quality. In swine, the test temperature range is 24 DEG -26 DEG +/-2 DEG C.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen D. M. Jones
- 👤 Allan L. Schaefer
- 👤 Alan K. Tong
- 👤 Shannon L. Scott
- 👤 Claude D. J. Gariepy
- 👤 Richard C. Graham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:48
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22B; A22B5/00; A22B5/0064; A22B5/007; A01; A01K; A01K29/00; A01K29/004; G; G01; G01N; G01N25/00; G01N25/72; G01N33/00; G01N33/02; G01N33/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for detecting a high probability of producing poor meat quality in live domestic cattle, comprising: scanning an area of a live animal with an infrared camera to produce a thermographic image; determining the proportion of the image falling within a test temperature range of 28°-32°±2° C.; determining the proportion of the image falling outside the test temperature range of 28°-32°±2° C.; and rejecting the animal as one having a high probability of producing poor meat quality if the proportion of the image falling within the test temperature range is lower than the proportion of the image falling outside the test temperature range.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for detecting a high probability of producing poor meat quality in live domestic cattle, comprising: scanning an area of a live animal with an infrared camera to produce a thermographic image; determining the proportion of the image falling within a test temperature range of 28°-32°±2° C.; determining the proportion of the image falling outside the test temperature range of 28°-32°±2° C.; and rejecting the animal as one having a high probability of producing poor meat quality if the proportion of the image falling within the test temperature range is lower than the proportion of the image falling outside the test temperature range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the proportions of the image falling within the test temperature range and the proportion of the image falling outside the temperature range are determined as respective proportions of the total pixel count for the area of the animal scanned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the animal is scanned after about 6 hours of transport to the antemortem environment, and wherein the method further comprises determining the proportion of the image falling below the test temperature range of 28°-32°±2° C.; and rejecting the animal as one having a high probability of producing poor meat quality if the proportion of the image falling within the test temperature range is lower than the proportion of the image falling below the test temperature range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the animal is scanned in an antemortem environment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the animal is scanned within about 6 hours of transport to the antemortem environment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the animal is scanned from the side.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the animal is scanned in at least one area selected from the group consisting of the head, trunk and extremities.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the test temperature range is 28°-32° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the animal is beef cattle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the dorsal surface of the animal is scanned.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the animal is scanned between the atlas vertebrae and the thoracic vertebrae.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the test temperature range is 28°-32° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, 11 or 12, wherein the animal is beef cattle.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for detecting a high probability of producing poor meat quality in live domestic swine, comprising; scanning an area of a live swine animal with an infrared camera to produce a thermographic image; determining the proportion of the image falling within a test temperature range of 24°-26°±2° C.; determining the proportion of the image falling outside the test temperature range 24°-26°±2° C.; and rejecting the animal as one having a high probability of producing poor meat quality if the proportion of the image falling within the test temperature range is lower than the proportion of the image falling outside the test temperature range.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for detecting a high probability of producing poor meat quality in live domestic swine, comprising; scanning an area of a live swine animal with an infrared camera to produce a thermographic image; determining the proportion of the image falling within a test temperature range of 24°-26°±2° C.; determining the proportion of the image falling outside the test temperature range 24°-26°±2° C.; and rejecting the animal as one having a high probability of producing poor meat quality if the proportion of the image falling within the test temperature range is lower than the proportion of the image falling outside the test temperature range.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the dorsal surface of the animal is scanned.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the animal is scanned between the atlas vertebrae and the thoracic vertebrae.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the animal is scanned between the atlas vertebrae and the cervical vertebrae.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the animal is scanned in the intrascapular area between the atlas vertebrae and the cervical vertebrae.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein the test temperature range is 24°-26° C.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method as set forth in claim 19, which further comprises determining the proportion of the image falling above the test temperature range of 24°-26° C. and rejecting the animal as one having a high probability of producing poor meat quality if the proportion of the image falling within the test temperature range is lower than the proportion of the image falling above the test temperature range.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-10-16 | 1999-04-17 | 1999-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-16 | 2003-04-17 | 2003-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-16 | 2007-04-17 | 2007-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |