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The Other AI

Expert systems, a form of artificial intelligence, could help farmers in their grazing management according to Dr Peter Nuthall, Director of Lincoln University's Management Systems Research Unit.

Expert systems attempt to mimic the operation of human experts. The rules used by experts to make decisions are coded into computer programs, and users answer questions posed by the computer, which eventually makes a recommendation.

Nuthall and research officer Greg Bishop-Hurley have developed three such systems, which were recently tested by 25 computer-owning farmers. The first involved whether to wean a mob of ewes and lambs, the second whether to drench a mob, and the third what to do with spring/summer surplus feed.

Nuthall notes that few farmers use feed budgeting despite its potential to improve feeding efficiency. Expert systems are being considered as a simple way to overcome complex feed management problems.

After the trial, farmers were asked whether they agreed with the advice and explanations provided. For all three systems, around 80% of the farmers agreed. Given that not everyone agrees with an "ordinary" expert, these figures are very promising, Nuthall says.

Three-quarters of testers believed the packages would make decisions easier, and many felt they would be useful as reminders of the important factors in each decision.

Nuthall says it is clear the programs would likely act as training systems. Once rules and procedures were learnt, the farmers would make decisions without the aid of the computer. If they felt rusty at a later time, they could again turn on their computer and re-use the package. Using this process they would update their skills for intuitive use in the paddock.