20.500.12556/RUL-133277 Evaluation of the physical properties of bedding materials for dairy cattle using fuzzy clustering analysis The bedding materials used in dairy cow housing systems are extremely important for animal welfare and performance. A wide range of materials can be used as bedding for dairy cattle, but their physical properties must be analysed to evaluate their potential. In the present study, the physical properties of various bedding materials for dairy cattle were investigated, and different fuzzy clustering algorithms were employed to cluster these materials based on their physical properties. A total of 51 different bedding materials from various places in Europe were collected and tested. Physical analyses were carried out for the following parameters: bulk density (BD), water holding capacity (WHC), air-filled porosity (AFP), global density (GD), container capacity (CC), total effective porosity (TEP), saturated humidity (SH), humidity (H), and average particle size (APS). These data were analysed by principal components analysis (PCA) to reduce the amount of data and, subsequently, by fuzzy clustering analysis. Three clustering algorithms were tested: k-means (KM), fuzzy c-means (FCM) and Gustafson–Kessel (GK) algorithms. Furthermore, different numbers of clusters (2−8) were evaluated and subsequently compared using five validation indexes. The GK clustering algorithm with eight clusters fit better regarding the division of materials according to their properties. From this clustering analysis, it was possible to understand how the physical properties of the bedding materials may influence their behaviour. Among the materials that fit better as bedding materials for dairy cows, Posidonia oceanica (Cluster 6) can be considered an alternative material. alternative bedding material cattle housing systems clustering algorithm Gustafson–Kessel dairy cows water holding capacity govedo krave molznice nastil stelja true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2021-11-19 09:25:59 2021-11-19 09:25:59 2022-09-12 04:15:36 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2020 0 0 14 str. iss. 2, art. 351 Vol. 10 2020 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 636.2 2076-2615 10.3390/ani10020351 4355720 RAZ_Ponciano_Ferraz_Patricia_Ferreira_2020.pdf RAZ_Ponciano_Ferraz_Patricia_Ferreira_2020.pdf 1 85FA5EC9A7884AA2BAE4564B450519BA 016291c6c198926129cfcdacf23a6290acaf53889c66a32c647a2c039962aebd 147002bb-4913-11ec-abdb-00155dcfd717 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=151187 https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/2/351 1 40bbc5ee-4912-11ec-abdb-00155dcfd717 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=151186 Biotehniška fakulteta 0 0 0