Upgrade of biological assumptions and parameters used in the HS risk management model version 2.3

Summary

The animal parameters in the HS risk management model are critical to the assessment of voyage risk and hence also critical to the regulatory approval of live export voyages from Australia to the Middle East. A review has shown the few recent heat stress data sets available to be consistent with the original heat stress data applied in the HS software. 
In general, the efficacy of the original figures is reaffirmed. A slight change is recommended to the heat stress threshold, mortality limit and coat factor for Bos taurus dairy (Friesian) cattle. Two methods are given for accepting minor loading variations without having to rework and resubmit the HS file. This will save time and complication during the loading process, without significantly increasing voyage heat stress risk.