Cattle Heat Load forecasting for Meat and Livestock Australian (MLA)

Since 2002 the scientists at Katestone Environmental have developed a forecasting system to assist in warning feedlot operators of impending adverse weather conditions that could lead to excessive heat loads for feedlot cattle. The development of this system was funded by MLA. This forecasting system covers a number of locations where Bureau of Meteorology automatic weather stations (AWS) are located and will be extended to cover over 90 sites around Australia for the summer of 2009.

“The parameters forecast are called the HLI (heat load index) and AHLU (accumulated heat load units), these rely on accurate forecasts of temperature, relative humidity and wind speed.”

The parameters forecast are called the HLI (heat load index) and AHLU (accumulated heat load units), these rely on accurate forecasts of temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. The relationship between these parameters and cattle heat stress were developed as part of the on-going research funded by MLA in collaboration with Dr John Gaughan of University of Queensland, Katestone Environmental and EA Systems.

In addition to viewing forecast and historic data, feedlot managers can use the Risk Analysis Program, the Heat Load Index calculator, and the Accumulated Heat Load Units calculator to customise the forecast data to take account of the variable factors appropriate to their own operation.

The daily forecasts are delivered to a web site to allow easy access by the feedlot operators http://www.katestone.com.au/mla