Heat's Hidden Toll on Dairy Farms

Dairy cows are feeling the heat, and it's not just a one-day thing. New research shows that extreme heat can cut milk production by up to 10%, and the effects can last for more than 10 days. This isn't just a bad day at the farm; it's a long-term problem. Cows that are in their prime production stages are hit the hardest. This means that the more milk a cow usually gives, the more it suffers when temperatures rise. It's a tough trade-off: the better the cow is at producing milk, the more vulnerable it is to heat. Farmers have tried to fight back with cooling systems and changes in management. These efforts have helped, but not enough. They only reduce the losses by less than half. So, even with the best technology and practices, the damage from heat is still significant. This isn't just about one farm or one country. The data comes from key dairy-producing regions, representing a wide range of climates. If the best efforts aren't enough to protect dairy farms from heat, what does that say about the future of food production in a warming world? The bottom line is clear: climate change is a big problem for dairy farms, and current adaptation strategies aren't enough to solve it. It's time to think bigger and act faster.