Use of a computer-aided design to develop a stress simulation model for lactating dairy sheep

A mechanistic model of the mammary gland able to simulate the milk production process in dairy sheep was constructed by using a computer-aided simulation via object-oriented modelling. Such an approach, rather innovative in animal science, allows the construction of complex models avoiding the use of non-linear differential equations. The model was structured into three sub units: alveolar, energy and milk sub-models. It was used to mimic the milk production process of dairy sheep. Moreover, the model was used to simulate the effects on milk production of external stresses represented by the variation in milking frequency and a reduction in the energy supplied to the animal with the diet.