Heat prediction model for cattle

It is difficult to rest comfortably if your cattle are stressed, so the ability to predict and prevent potential stressors is also essential. Scientists with the US Department of Agriculture (ARS) have invented an online model that provides information to help cattle and ranchers be comfortable when temperatures rise.

A new computer model on the Internet can help ranchers predict the dangerous temperature stress for their livestock.(Photo: Scott Bauer)

For years, cattle ranchers have relied on the National Weather Service to get weather alerts for pets. When the agency stopped providing information in the mid-1990s, many ranchers turned to searching for information on the University's website. University warnings, like the ones it replaces, are based on predictions of humidity and temperature, but do not explain other influencing factors.

High temperatures are clearly not only a key force for dangerous levels of heat, but other parameters such as humidity, sunlight intensity and wind speed are also affected. Model of the Department of Agriculture by Tami M. Brown-Brandl and Roger Eigenberg of Roman L. Hruska US Center for Animal Animal Research in Clay Center, Neb; The invention considered all parameters within its calculation range.

The model was updated twice daily and made predictions for South Dakota State, Nebraska State, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Western Colorado and Northern Texas.It analyzes weather forecast information, assesses the danger of stress on the temperature encountered and presents information on a color coded map and can view it at: http : //www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm? docid = 16750

Livestock owners and other cattle managers can refer to this map to assess the extent of the threat in their area. Last year more than 200 visitors to the site during the two hot months were July and August.

The US Department of Agriculture is the key scientific research agency of the US Department of Agriculture.

(Photo: ars.usda.gov)