January 11, 2006

Australian cattle industry suffers record temperatures

Australia's cattle industry is suffering a severe strain from record temperatures. Prices have been slashed in three states as the high temperatures kill livestock in western Queensland.

Last week, the Bureau of Meteorology reported that last year was the country's hottest year on record. 

Mayor David Edwards said as many as six cattle were dying a week from heat stress in Quilpie shire in western Queensland.

According to him, the shire was experiencing the longest heat wave he has known. In the past few weeks, temperatures often reached more than 40 deg C, he said. In addition, the shire has been gripped by a drought for the past five years.