METHODS FOR FACILITATING THE TRANSPORT OF LIVESTOCK ON SHIPPING VESSELS

1 . A method of transporting livestock comprising the steps of:

a. categorizing livestock by weight into more than one weight category;

b. determining the area required by the livestock in each weight category;

c. determining the capacity of shipping containers for each weight category of livestock;

d. loading livestock from a single weight category into a shipping container not exceeding the capacity of the shipping container for that weight category;

e. loading livestock from a second weight category into a second shipping container not exceeding the capacity of the second shipping container;

f. loading the shipping containers onto a shipping vessel;

g. transporting the shipping vessel to a destination location;

h. unloading each of the shipping containers from the shipping vessel at the destination location; and

i. unloading the livestock from each of the shipping containers.

2 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

a. loading about one half of the shipping containers capacity of livestock;

b. isolating the loaded livestock on one side of the container; and

c. loading the remaining one half of the containers capacity into the other side of the shipping container.

3 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 1 further comprising the step of providing the shipping container with a source of food and a source of water.

4 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 3 wherein the volume of food and water in each shipping container depends on the category of livestock in each shipping container.

5 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 1 wherein livestock is additionally categorized as having been artificially inseminated before transport.

6 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 5 wherein livestock categorized as having been artificially inseminated before transport are provided with shipping containers having circulation fans and access to water from anywhere in the shipping container.

7 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 5 wherein livestock categorized as having been artificially inseminated before transport are provided with additional space sufficient for birthing a calf.

8 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 1 wherein the livestock comprises heifers gestating embryos.

9 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 1 wherein the animals are additionally categorized by health status.

10 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 9 wherein each category of livestock loaded into shipping containers are of a like health status.

11 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 9 wherein the livestock with an illness or other contagious condition are categorized with a negative health status.

12 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 11 wherein livestock categorized in a negative health status are isolated from those determined to be healthy during shipment.

13 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 1 wherein each container is loaded with feed according to the category and number of livestock.

14 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 1 wherein each shipping container is loaded with livestock to have an even weight distribution in each shipping container.

15 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

a. loading a first portion of the livestock designated for a particular shipping container;

b. isolating the loaded livestock into a corresponding proportional section of the shipping container; and

c. sequentially loading subsequent portions of the designated livestock into corresponding proportional sections of the livestock container until each designated livestock is loaded.

16 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 15 wherein one half of the livestock are loaded into a shipping container then isolated one side of the shipping container, then the other half of the livestock are loaded onto the other side of the shipping container.

17 . The method of transporting livestock according to claim 16 wherein the step of isolating the loaded livestock further comprises securing a gate in about the middle of the container.

18 . A method of doing business comprising the steps of:

a. booking space on a shipping vessel from a desired departure point to a desired destination;

b. coordinating a quarantine area a predetermined amount of time before the scheduled shipment from the departure point;

c. scheduling the transport of the livestock to the shipping vessel;

d. arranging the transfer of the shipping containers containing the livestock onto the shipping vessel;

e. arranging the connection of water and electric power to the shipping containers; and

f. coordinating the pickup of the shipping containers at a destination port for delivery.

19 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 further comprising the step of scheduling the livestock containers to be the last containers loaded onto the shipping vessel.

20 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 further comprising the step of scheduling the livestock containers to be the first containers unloaded from the vessel.

21 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 wherein the shipping vessel is also carrying non-livestock cargo and the shipping containers with livestock are loaded along with the bulk goods.

22 . The method of doing business according to claim 21 wherein the non-livestock cargo comprises dry bulk goods.

23 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 wherein the cost of shipping livestock is reduced by booking space alongside non-livestock cargo.

24 . The method of doing business according to claim 23 wherein livestock transportation in the livestock shipping containers cost less than 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 50%, 80%, or 85% the total cost of the fright on the shipping vessel.

25 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 further comprising the step of providing an attendant to accompany the livestock shipping containers.

26 . The method of doing business according to claim 25 wherein the attendant evaluates the power supply and water supply to each of the shipping containers regularly to ensure healthy livestock arrive at the desired destination.

27 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 wherein animals in one or more livestock shipping containers are of the same species.

28 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 wherein livestock being shipped comprise artificially inseminated heifers.

29 . The method of doing business according to claim 28 wherein the artificially inseminated livestock being transported have been artificially inseminated with sex sorted sperm.

30 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 wherein livestock shipping containers are loaded directly from trucks onto the shipping vessel for loading, or the shipping containers are loaded directly from the shipping vessel to trucks during unloading.

31 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 further comprising the step of directing the modification of the shipping containers.

32 . The method of doing business according to claim 31 wherein the step of directing the modification of the shipping containers further comprises:

a. providing instructions to cut ventilation openings in the shipping container;

b. providing instructions to reinforce the shipping container at the ventilation openings;

c. providing instructions to seal at least a portion of the shipping vessel to prevent liquids and solids from escaping from the interior of the shipping container;

d. providing instructions to install a partition to separate livestock from livestock feed;

e. providing instructions to create an area to store feed; and

f. providing instructions to create a personnel opening to access the stored feed.

33 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 wherein the quarantine is for 30 days.

34 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 further comprising the step of arranging the diet of the livestock during shipment.

35 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 wherein the diet is coordinated to promote livestock weight gain throughout shipment.

36 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 wherein the livestock are transported to the shipping vessel and loaded onto the shipping vessel within the same respective shipping containers.

37 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 further comprising the step of: scheduling the direct unloading of livestock containers from the shipping vessel to ground transportation and coordinating the unloading of livestock from the shipping containers at a location off site from the destination port.

38 . The method of claim 37 further providing the step of scheduling multiple ground transports for arriving at the destination port and lining up for the sequential unloading of shipping containers.

39 . The method of doing business according to claim 18 wherein the step of scheduling the transport of the livestock to the shipping vessel further comprises transporting the livestock to the shipping vessel within the shipping containers for loading.