Machine learning project at our institute contributes analysis method to precision agriculture

Research published in the Journal of Animal Science has shown analysis method can accurately use phenotype and gene data to predict the age at which pigs will be ready for slaughter. A recent study by Ahmad Alsahaf, George Azzopardi, Bart Ducro, Egiel Hanenberg, Roel F Veerkamp and Nicolai Petkov examining the accuracy of phenotypic and genetic data in predicting slaughter age was prompted by the fact that correctly forecasting the growth of pigs can help determine things like feed costs and pen space requirements. Growth-rate predictions could also be used in other ways – for example, to identify which growth-rate factors might be more important than others.