lactationcurve 1.0.8

Lactation curve fitting and analysis library

lactationcurve (Python)

A toolkit for fitting dairy cow lactation curves, evaluating lactation curve characteristics (LCCs) (time to peak, peak yield, cumulative yield, persistency), and computing 305‑day milk yield using the ICAR guideline.

Contact: Meike van Leerdam, [e-mail]

Authors: Judith Osei-Tete, Douwe de Kok, Lucia Trapanese & Meike van Leerdam

Initial authored: 2025‑08‑12

Updated: 2026‑02‑12

---

Main Lactation curve models implemented:

MilkBot – Flexible four-parameter model describing rise, peak, and decline. (Both frequentist and Bayesian fitting available)

Wood – Classic three-parameter gamma function model.

Wilmink – Linear–exponential hybrid model, with fixed or estimated decay rate.

Ali & Schaeffer – Polynomial–logarithmic model for complex curve shapes.

Fischer – Simplified exponential decay model.

Additional models available for a.o. symbolic LCC derivations: Brody , Sikka , Nelder , Dhanoa , Emmans , Hayashi , Rook , Dijkstra , Prasad .

Model Formulas

• Wood : y(t) = a * t^b * exp(-c * t)

• Wilmink : y(t) = a + b * t + c * exp(k * t) with default k = -0.05

• Ali & Schaeffer : t_scaled = t / 340, L = ln(340 / t)

  y(t) = a + b*t_scaled + c*t_scaled^2 + d*L + k*L^2

• Fischer : y(t) = a - b*t - a*exp(-c*t)

• MilkBot : y(t) = a * (1 - exp((c - t)/b) / 2) * exp(-d*t)

Features

• Frequentist fitting (numeric optimization & least squares):
  • Wood, Wilmink, Ali & Schaeffer, Fischer, MilkBot
• Bayesian fitting via MilkBot API:
  • MilkBot
• Lactation Curve Characteristics — symbolic + numeric:
  • time_to_peak, peak_yield, cumulative_milk_yield, persistency
• ICAR procedures cumulative milk yield:
  • Test Interval Method
• Input validation/normalization via validate_and_prepare_inputs
• Caching of symbolic expressions for performance

API Overview

The package is organized into three main modules:

1. lactationcurve.fitting
2. lactationcurve.characteristics
3. lactationcurve.preprocessing

Output Types Summary

| Function | Output |

|---------|--------|

| fit_lactation_curve | Predicted yields (np.ndarray) |

| get_lc_parameters | Tuple of numerical parameters |

| bayesian_fit_milkbot_single_lactation | Dict of MilkBot parameters |

| lactation_curve_characteristic_function | (expr, params, func) |

| calculate_characteristic | float (LCC value) |

| test_interval_method | DataFrame with 305‑day totals |

Bayesian (MilkBot API)

• Set fitting="bayesian" and model="milkbot" in fit_lactation_curve or calculate_characteristic.
• Provide an API key via .env
• Choose priors via continent="USA" | "EU" | "CHEN" (CHEN supplies published priors from literature).
• The helper bayesian_fit_milkbot_single_lactation(...) normalizes differing API responses.
• The key can be requested by sending an email to Jim Ehrlich [e-mail].
• More information about the API can be found here.

Citation

Citing the lactationcurve package

If you use the lactationcurve package in your research, please consider citing it as follows:

van Leerdam, M. B., de Kok, D., Osei-Tete, J. A., & Hostens, M. (2026). Bovi-analytics/bovi: v.1.1.1. (v.1.0.8).

Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18715145

BibTex:

@software{van_leerdam_2026_lactationcurve,

author = {van Leerdam, Meike Beatrijs and de Kok, D. and Osei-Tete, J. A. and Hostens, M.},

title = {Bovi-analytics/lactation_curve_core: v.1.1.1},

version = {1.0.8},

year = {2026},

publisher = {Zenodo},

doi = {10.5281/zenodo.18715145},

url = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18715145}

}

``

A machine-readable citation is included in `CITATION.cff

If you also use the Bayesian fitting functionality that relies on the MilkBot API, please also cite the following paper:

Ehrlich, J.L., 2013. Quantifying inter-group variability in lactation curve shape and magnitude with the MilkBot® lactation model. PeerJ 1, e54.

https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.54

License

MIT License