ADVANTAGES OF USING EXPERT SYSTEMS TO PROJECT DAIRY CATTLE FARMS: CASE STUDY OF MENEMEN, TURKEY

I. Alkan and Y. Akyüz

Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, Izmir – TURKEY

e-mail: ilkay.alkan@ege.edu.tr

Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Izmir – TURKEY

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to asess the advantages of using information technologies in the design of architectural projects of dairy cattle farms. In this context, 3 dairy cattle farms in İzmir – Menemen region, designed with traditional methods and receiving rural development support, were picked as samples and they were examined using an expert system called “Architectural Designing of Dairy Farms” (ADDF). The existing infrastructure in the sample farms and the herd management strategies applicable within the mentioned infrastructure were compared with the herd management applications recommended by ADDF for each farm and the infrastructure facilities required by such strategies. It has been determined that in any of the farms, grouping systems do not meet the expert system's recommendations in terms of both animal density and age groups which causes difficulty access to feed and water, especially for young and special needs cows. In addition, there are design errors in the barns that will adversely affect animal welfare. Pen details and free stall designs caused injury and pollution in the stalls. In this context, it has been emphasized which mistakes can be avoided if expert systems are used and recommended to use the expert systems in the design of architectural projects of dairy cattle farms in order to use the investments effectively and to increase the efficiency in animal production.