Hybrid expert system for beef-forage grazing management

• Published in: Applied engineering in agriculture Vol. 7
• Main Authors: Tao Y, Thompson T.L, Moser L.E, Waller S.S, Klopfenstein T.J, Ward J.K, Wilkerson V.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 1991
• Subjects: beef cattle; bovin de boucherie; busqueda de alimento; computer software; conduite des herbages; foraging; ganado de carne; gestion; grassland management; grazing; logiciel; management; manejo de praderas; modele; modelos; nebraska; pastoreo; paturage; programas de ordenador; recherche de nourriture
• ISSN: 0883-8542; 1943-7838
• DOI: 10.13031/2013.26221

A beef-forage grazing model was developed to assist livestock producers with pasture grazing management decisions. A rule-based (expert) system predicts bi-weekly pasture yield based on pasture species, location, soil type, fertilization level, precipitation and grazing management. A database management system was used to generate a year-around animal inventory and estimate forage demands. A simulation model was interfaced with the rule-based and database systems to balance pasture supplies and animal demands. Management recommendations provided by the grazing model include proper pasture size, stocking rate, earliest grazing date, and animal nutrition for a specified single-pasture grazing schedule.