HEURISTIC APPROACHES IN SOLVING NON LINEAR MODEL OF LIVESTOCK RATION FORMULATION

A nonlinear formulation of optimum livestock diets, though very practical, has seen a limited research since classical techniques like Kuhn Tucker theory used by some researchers has its own limitations due to the rigidity of mathematical characteristics that should hold good to apply this technique. The present study deals with the importance of linear livestock ration formulation for sahiwal cows of second to fifth lactation number to maximize the milk yield[28].Its solution is found using heuristic approaches viz Controlled Random Search Technique(RST2) and Genetic Algorithm. We observe that the results obtained are well acceptable with slight deviations, takes less time due to computer usage, gives more flexibility to the decision maker. The techniques do not guarantee optimal solution but at least gives a solution which is best amongst the many solutions generated during the simulation process. The performance of both the techniques indicates that they can be well implemented for nonlinear livestock ration formulation problem.