Improving the issuing, absorption and use of climate forecast information in animal husbandry

Abstract

Seasonal and year to year climate variations are influenced by interactions between the atmosphere and ocean and land surfaces (Hansen 2002). Improvements in understanding these interactions, advances in global climate models (e.g. coupled Atmospheric Oceanic Global Circulation Models: AOGCMs) and in monitoring sea surface temperatures (e.g. Research Moored Array for African-Asian- Australian Monsoon Analysis and Prediction: RAMA) have improved the predictability of seasonal fluctuations (Patt 2002; Tarhule 2003; Huda et al. 2004a; Osgood et al. 2008; McPhaden et al. 2009). However, problems remain in translating seasonal climate forecast information into appropriate action by livestock owners and livestock advisors (Huda et al. 2004a). © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.