Linking weather data to cattle breed adaptation
By Michael Wellington The introduction of Black Angus and Wagyu cattle into extensive northern Australia has been watched with keen interest. As I was required to deliver a project as part of my livestock consulting internship, I spent some time looking at differences in adaptability among breeds due to renewed interest in this space. I found that most heat stress research has focused on the feedlot and dairy industries. This is logical because these industries have some level of control over the environmental conditions cattle experience. Also, feedlot and dairy cattle are more susceptible to heat stress due to higher metabolic heat production. Conversely, beef cattle in extensive environments have greater scope to regulate their heat load through behaviours such as shade and breeze seeking. There are several heat stress…