Computer-Based Grading for Conducting Interactive Internet Cattle Auctions

The object of this research project is to develop an interactive, video/sound, pc-based auction for stocker/feeder cattle using the Internet. Current mechanisms of video-tape/satellite/telephone-conferencing auctions favor the large volume producer who can generate 50,000 pound, trailer-load lots of cattle consisting of similar weight, grade, and sex (hereafter referred to as "load-lots"). The marketing strategy proposed herein provides a low-cost mechanism for small-volume cattle producers to aggregate their product into load-lots for sale, eliminating this barrier to trade for the small-volume farmer. Professional cattle order-buyers have always relied on subjective methods for grading cattle, be it their own judgement or someone's they trust. We intend to lay the groundwork for the development of an independent computer-based, image analysis system that will classify cattle by grade, description, and estimated weight solely by evaluation of digitized pictures of an animal. This would allow the small producer to video-tape his own cattle, without the current necessity of having an independent grader visit his farm. The producer could then submit the video-tape for computer grading and offer his cattle for sale over the Internet.