Artificial Intelligence Tool Helps Farmers Reduce Livestock Feed Losses

The National Animal Nutrition Program (NANP) is developing an artificial intelligence-based Feed Value Loss Risk Assessment Tool to help livestock producers identify feed losses, review management practices, and reduce waste. The project involves individuals such as Hector Menendez, Jordan M. Adams, Julia T. Silva, Karun Kaniyamattam, and Luis O. Tedeschi.

Feed Management and the AI Tool

Researchers are developing the Feed Value Loss Risk Assessment Tool, which combines expert knowledge and machine learning. This interactive application enables the evaluation of conditions that can lead to quantity loss or nutritional value decline during harvesting, storage, transportation, mixing, distribution, and feeding stages.

The application utilizes a machine learning method called Random Forest to estimate relative risk. While silage is the first feed type examined in detail, the tool is also designed to assess hay and grain management risks.

Risk Assessment and Expert Support

Producers obtain an overall risk score by entering information regarding harvesting, storage, processing, feed mixing, distribution, and bunk management into the system. This score does not indicate the exact amount of feed lost, but rather the relative risk based on the selected conditions.

Producers can review the results with members of the NANP Feed Management Committee, extension personnel, Natural Resources Conservation Service experts, and nutritionists to receive recommendations on appropriate management practices.