Summer brings heat, often amplified by humidity. Recent rains across the state and more in the short-term forecast, much of it in drought-stricken regions, have increased atmospheric and surface moisture. When we factor in warmer-than-normal temperatures, especially at night, heat stress can rapidly develop in humans and animals alike. It's been nearly four years since a major cattle loss event occurred in southwest Kansas. This marked a time when producers were caught off guard by a sudden transition from cool/wet to hot conditions.
When heat stress develops under hot, sunny, and humid conditions, more proactive steps are required to prevent illness. This is compounded when heat-stress values remain elevated for long periods and when cattle have not been exposed to cooler conditions, without the ability to acclimate. Of special importance is the animal’s ability to recover at night. High overnight temperatures prevent the body from recovering from the previous day’s heat and can compound the next day’s stress if left unmitigated.
The Kansas Mesonet's Animal Comfort Tool tracks current heat stress values in real time and looks ahead to the 7-day forecast, helping farmers stay one step ahead of potential issues.
Users can access this tool from the main Mesonet page (https://mesonet.k-state.edu/) by selecting “Agriculture” from the drop-down menu on the top left of every page and then “Comfort Index”. Also, users can access the tool directly from this link: http://mesonet.k-state.edu/agriculture/animal/
Utilizing the Forecast Animal Comfort Index
This product utilizes the National Weather Service hourly forecast (averaged over the hour, meaning extremes could be slightly more) for the next seven days. This data, consisting of solar, wind, temperature, and humidity, is utilized in the Comprehensive Comfort Index equation from the University of Nebraska. The ability to handle both hot and cold extremes provides a year-round product to increase producer awareness in advance of critical weather. Data is displayed on a graph and a summarized table, allowing quick analysis of conditions on desktop and mobile browsers in an easy-to-read format.
Kansas mesonet animal comfort tool monitors current and forecasted livestock conditions