Operation of a Weather Forecasting Service for Excessive Heat Load Summer 2002/2003 For The Australian Feedlot Industry

Summary

Last year Katestone Environmental developed a forecasting system for MLA to predict cattle heat stress out to 6 days ahead for 4 sites in Queensland and New South Wales (FLOT.313). This project aimed to assist cattle feedlot operators with managing upcoming potential cattle heat stress events. The study obtained data daily from on-site meteorological stations and the nearest Bureau of Meteorology automatic weather station (AWS) and conducted forecasts for all data.

A comparison was made between the on-site forecasts and the AWS forecasts for cattle heat stress indicators. It was found that reasonable forecasts could be made using the closest AWS. This is significant as the majority of feedlot sites do not have on-site meteorological stations. The forecasting study was expanded over the summer 2002/2003 period to cover more AWS sites that represent feedlot locations, specifically feedlots where heat stress in cattle is important. This study included the following 14 sites:

Queensland

Amberley, Emerald, Miles, Oakey, Roma and Warwick;

New South Wales

Albury, Armidale, Griffith, Hay, Moree, Tamworth and Yanco; and

South Australia

Clare.

The forecasting system was designed to produce daily forecasts of the heat load index (HLI) recommended to MLA as having a more significant relationship to cattle heat stress than the previously used temperature-humidity index (THI).

Other MLA Cattle Heat Load Toolbox projects

• B.FLT.4004 – summer 2018-2019
• B.FLT.4004 – summer 2018-2019
• B.FLT.4001 – summer 2017-2018
• B.FLT.0151 – summer 2011-2012
• B.FLT.0365 – summer 2010-2011
• B.FLT.0357 – summer 2009-2010
• B.FLT.0352 – summer 2008-2009
• B.FLT.0346 – summer 2007-2008
• B.FLT.0340 – summer 2006-2007
• FLOT.334 – summer 2005-2006
• FLOT.329 – summer 2004-2005
• FLOT.324 – summer 2003-2004
• FLOT.313 – summer 2001-2002