A computer-based Expert system to support the selection and implementation of systems for sustainable livestock waste management in South-East Asia

Dissemination and knowledge transfer remain a challenge in many fi elds of research. This is especially the case for the application of livestock waste management in developing countries where there an overwhelming volume of material is already available to the farm advisor and the real need is often the transfer of such knowledge to the local level. The object of this project is to package up suitable techniques as an EXPERT and design system that can be applied directly to farm situations across South East Asia. A crucial aspect of the approach is to enable local people to make decisions based on the best available information – hence the descriptive title, as a “Decision Support Tool” or DST. The specifi c objectives of the package are to (i) serve as planning tool for the design of the selected manure management strategy (including cost calculations); (ii) to specify designs of the most appropriate manure management strategy including treatment options and/ or recycling; (iii) to predict the amount and the composition of the resulting manure and manure products; (iv) to provide a planning tool for the distribution of manure and manure products to crops and (v) to support the analysis of the environmental impact of livestock farms for any given proposed scenario. The software will comprise both calculation models (e.g. nutrient excretion of animals, nutrient balance, design and costs of manure treatment facilities), and decision tree elements (e.g. providing a structured analysis of the present situation at a given farm). Outputs will include summary reports providing specifi c recommendations, specifi cations, case study examples and supporting multimedia background information.