Heat load forecast service – Feedlot AWS data integration
| Project start date: | 01 March 2013 |
| Project end date: | 25 May 2015 |
| Publication date: | 01 July 2015 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Grainfed cattle |
| Relevant regions: | National |
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Summary
In the 2012 upgrade of the heat load forecast service, the Heat Load Data Network (HLDN) was developed to allow integration of feedlot site weather station data into the heat load forecast via the Cattle Heat Load Toolbox (CHLT). This project was implemented to assist feedlots with this integration process. For participating feedlots, when a new forecast is issued, the forecast accumulated heat load units (AHLU's) are initialised utilising the actual measurements from the onsite AWS, thereby providing more accurate forecasts.
By the end of the 2014-15 summer season a total of 28 sites were connected and using the service and a further four sites were in the final stages of becoming connected. Of the sites connected to the service, the total number of cattle covered was almost 500,000 (SCU), or just under 50% of industry capacity. A review of the benefits of the system, undertaken in June 2014, showed that sites using the HLDN to initialise their site heat load forecast had an improvement in forecast accuracy, compared to not including the site data.
More information
| Project manager: | Des Rinehart |
| Primary researcher: | Katestone Environmental Pty Ltd |
