Validation of an integrated decision support and expert system for analysis of individual sow-herd performance

Abstract Validation is an important and difficult stage in developing computerized systems. This is especially the case when expert systems are considered where symbolic problem-solving techniques and heuristics are used to draw conclusions. A methodology for validating the computer system CHESS, which determines strengths and weaknesses in the management of an individual swine breeding enterprise, has been developed. Both the decision support system and the expert system components of CHESS have been validated, and a field test of CHESS as a whole has been carried out. The field test resulted in a test agreement between CHESS and experts of about 60%. The percent mis-classification error turned out to be 4%. So, the knowledge of the experts has been successfully incorporated into the computerized expert system.