Combination of linear and weighted goal programming with penalty function in optimisation of a daily dairy cow ration

J. Žgajnar, L. Juvančič and S. Kavčič
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J. Žgajnar: Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Domžale, Slovenia
L. Juvančič: Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Domžale, Slovenia
S. Kavčič: Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Domžale, Slovenia

Agricultural Economics, 2009, vol. 55, issue 10, 492-500

Abstract: The aim of the paper is to present a developed spreadsheet tool for the formulation of a daily dairy cow ration. It is constructed on the basis of two linked sub-models developed on the MS Excel platform. It merges the common linear programming model and the weighted-goal programming model with a penalty function. The first sub-model is included in the tool to make an estimate of the least-cost magnitude that might be expected. The obtained result is entered into the second sub-model as the goal that should be met as closely as possible. The tool was tested at two different values of preferential weights for dairy cows with a 25 kg daily milk yield. The results obtained confirm the benefits of the applied approach. In contrast to the common linear program tools, which terminate at formulation of the least-cost ration, our tool provides more efficient rations (in both economic and nutritive terms) by fine-tuning the nutritive goals and by allowing for harmless deviations from these goals by application of penalty functions.

Keywords: spreadsheet ration optimization; economics of dairy breeding; linear programming; weighted goal programming with penalty function (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:55:y:2009:i:10:id:2601-agricecon

DOI: 10.17221/2601-AGRICECON

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