Cool for cows

 

New model helps predict extreme weather for cattle.

New online models developed by US scientists help cows keep their cool when the heat is on. The models, on the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) website, provides up to the minute information to help cattle farmers know when the temperature is rising.

The ARS is the US Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency. The online model analyses weather forecast information, assesses the danger of cattle incurring heat stress and displays that information as a colour-coded map. The ARS’ model has replaced the many university websites farmers would source for weather warnings and forecasts.

Suffering from the heat

Farmers do not want to see their cattle suffering high degree heat, which can cause their livestock to stress. Elevated temperature is the main reason behind dangerous heat levels, but humidity, sun intensity and wind speed, are also a factor as well. The ARS considers all four influences for its temperature predictions, where previous methods did not.

The model provides predictions for South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, western Colorado and northern Texas and is updates twice daily.

The weather model can be viewed here.

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