As the approach summer, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology long range forecast for November to January indicates that average rainfall is likely across parts of eastern and western Australia.
There are also warnings of warmer than average days and nights likely across most of Australia and unusually high minimum temperatures are very likely for much of northern and eastern Australia.
These forecasted conditions are likely to present challenging conditions for feedlot operators over the summer months. Pen maintenance and manure management will be of high importance if the forecast increased rainfall and higher temperatures prevail.
Effectively managing feedlots during the summer not only optimises production benefits but also significantly enhances animal welfare and minimises the risks of pollution events. The cornerstone of this effective management lies in the implementation of a Heat Management Plan.
Proactive management of heat in feedlots is far more effective than a reactive approach. Developing and implementing a plan that includes daily schedules, well-defined triggers, and response actions is crucial in minimizing risk.
Additionally, maintaining records of daily monitoring and response actions is a requirement under the National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme (NFAS).
If you haven't already, it is crucial to conduct a pre-summer review that includes a comprehensive site risk assessment, installation or servicing of on-site weather stations, staff training and emergency contact information. Consult with your veterinarians to develop a summer feeding strategy, especially if your commodities have been changed.
With the commercialisation of heat load forecast services for the Australian feedlot industry, now is the time to ensure you have systems in place to monitor the Heat Load Index (HLI) and Accumulated Heat Load Units (AHLU) throughout the summer.
While these options are adequate to meet the requirements of NFAS, weather stations are not able to provide forecast information, an important tool for making proactive decisions.
For a comprehensive approach to managing heat, I strongly recommend subscribing to one of the available weather forecasting tools, such as as Kite Feedlot or Climate Intelligence - Livestock by Misteo.
These services offer the ability to conduct risk assessments using the RAP, determine HLI thresholds for different livestock classes, and provide crucial weather, HLI, and AHLU forecasts for your feedlot site.
This proactive approach enables feedlots to make informed decisions days in advance of potential heat load events, avoiding reactive responses.
Encourage all staff to familiarise themselves with the chosen weather forecasting service and explore its features, tools, and resources.
Managers should set up alert settings suited to the cattle you are managing and ensure that all essential staff and consultants, including veterinarians and nutritionists, are included on alert lists.
Connecting your on-site weather station to your weather forecasting service can enhance the accuracy of AHLU by utilising site-specific data.
To further aid feedlots in managing cattle welfare during the summer, ALFA have updated the 'Guide for Managing Summer Heat in Australian Feedlots,' available for download on the ALFA website.
A friendly reminder that the ALFA Technical Services Officer role is dedicated to delivering information, education, training, and technical support to enhance management practices for all cattle lot feeders across Australia. This position is jointly funded by ALFA and MLA and offers free, on-the-ground extension support to feedlots.
Please contact Jeff with any enquiries you may have on 0419 262 207 or email at jeff.house@feedlots.com.au.