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A hierarchical Markov decision process modeling feeding and marketing decisions of growing pigs

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  • Pourmoayed, Reza
  • Nielsen, Lars Relund
  • Kristensen, Anders Ringgaard

Abstract

Feeding is the most important cost in the production of growing pigs and has a direct impact on the marketing decisions, growth and the final quality of the meat. In this paper, we address the sequential decision problem of when to change the feed-mix within a finisher pig pen and when to pick pigs for marketing. We formulate a hierarchical Markov decision process with three levels representing the decision process. The model considers decisions related to feeding and marketing and finds the optimal decision given the current state of the pen. The state of the system is based on information from on-line repeated measurements of pig weights and feeding and is updated using a Bayesian approach. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the features of the proposed optimization model.

Suggested Citation

  • Pourmoayed, Reza & Nielsen, Lars Relund & Kristensen, Anders Ringgaard, 2016. "A hierarchical Markov decision process modeling feeding and marketing decisions of growing pigs," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 250(3), pages 925-938.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:250:y:2016:i:3:p:925-938
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2015.09.038
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Asadabadi, Mehdi Rajabi, 2017. "A customer based supplier selection process that combines quality function deployment, the analytic network process and a Markov chain," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 263(3), pages 1049-1062.
    2. Reza Pourmoayed & Lars Relund Nielsen, 2022. "Optimizing pig marketing decisions under price fluctuations," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 314(2), pages 617-644, July.
    3. Esteve Nadal-Roig & Adela Pagès-Bernaus & Lluís M. Plà-Aragonès, 2018. "Bi-Objective Optimization Model Based on Profit and CO 2 Emissions for Pig Deliveries to the Abattoir," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Pourmoayed, Reza & Nielsen, Lars Relund, 2019. "An approximate dynamic programming approach for sequential pig marketing decisions at herd level," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 276(3), pages 1056-1070.
    5. Davoudkhani, M. & Mahé, F. & Dourmad, J.Y. & Gohin, A. & Darrigrand, E. & Garcia-Launay, F., 2020. "Economic optimization of feeding and shipping strategies in pig-fattening using an individual-based model," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).

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