- Farmers are using cooling systems and fortified feed to protect animals from heat stress
- Despite preparations, fears are growing that a prolonged heat spell could repeat the damage seen in 2022 drought
MILAN
Beneath the wide roofs of modern cattle sheds in northern Italy, cows rest in the artificial breeze of fans and the mist of fine water sprays.
It is not even noon, and the temperature outside has already climbed past 30C (86F), but inside, the air is noticeably cooler – just enough to keep the herd calm and the milk flowing.
This scene is increasingly common across Lombardy, Italy’s main dairy-producing region, as farmers face yet another punishing summer.
A fresh heat wave has just swept the country, bringing an African air mass over Italy after months of unseasonably hot weather.
While city dwellers sweat through the stifling heat, the conditions are also threatening a sector at the heart of Italy’s iconic food culture.
Despite layers of technological defenses, many dairy farmers are watching milk yields fall, and fears are growing that the coming weeks could echo the devastating summer of 2022, when a severe drought left pastures scorched, rivers dry and milk production crippled.
“Back in 2022, there was a complete lack of water and precipitation from the previous winter through summer,” said Mauro Belloli, economic manager of Coldiretti Lombardia.
“The territories now have greater water availability. However, it is hoped that this situation will not continue throughout the summer and that it can be brought to a conclusion with the help of Jupiter Pluvius – the god of rain.”
Cows under pressure
Cows are particularly affected by the heat. When the mercury rises, they eat less, drink more and their bodies divert energy from milk production to cooling. Typically, they experience a 10% decrease in milk production compared to other times of the year, with drops of up to 15%.
Coldiretti, Italy’s foremost farming and breeding organization, reports a reduction of approximately 1.8 million liters (475,000 gallons) compared to normal periods.
The implications stretch far beyond Lombardy’s rolling pastures. The region produces 6.1 million tons of cow’s milk annually – accounting for nearly half of Italy’s total – and fuels a €6.5 billion ($7.6 billion) domestic milk market.
When processed into cheese and other dairy products, that value jumps to €18.5 billion ($21.15 billion), accounting for about 10% of Italy’s total national agri-food industry.
Technology to the rescue – at least in part
At the Grugni family farm in Cervignano d’Adda, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Milan, adaptation is no longer optional. The facility, home to over 1,000 cows – half of them milking – is equipped with a sophisticated cooling system.
“During the summer period, as early as May, when temperatures exceed 30C (86F), there may be a period of reduced performance in animals, which can result in a significant reduction in production of up to 50%,” said Michele Grugni, son of one of the owners of the agricultural company that also grows and produces corn for animal feed on an area of 290 hectares (nearly 720 acres).
“Thanks to our continuous-cycle cooling system, we have been able to contain the drop in production between 10% and 15%,” he explained.
The system – a network of fans and automated water spray lines – is governed by sensors that measure barn temperature and humidity. It adjusts water and artificial winds in real time to lower the humidity and heat in the barn.
The Grugni family is not alone. Belloli said this setup is now standard across Lombardy, where farmers have been dealing with heat for years.
“All facilities in Lombardy are now equipped with fans and water showers, making the environment more bearable and livable for both workers and animals,” he said.
Cooling the air is just part of the solution, as farmers are also rebalancing feed, adding vitamins and minerals to support digestion and hydration, he added.
Hoping for clouds
Even barn design has become a frontline defense.
New structures are oriented to reduce direct sun exposure and maximize cross-ventilation. At the Grugni barn, where each cow produces around 40 liters (10.6 gallons) of milk per day, every detail is studied.
One key element is barn orientation to avoid the sun’s harshest rays, while water use has also become a science.
Rather than spraying cattle, which can raise humidity and further stress animals, modern systems allow water to drip gently – cooling cows without soaking the barn floor or stifling airflow.
Still, with heat wave after heat wave, tension remains.
Farmers say that while there is currently more water in reserves compared to 2022, any prolonged dry spell could change that quickly.
In reality, while Italy’s dairy industry is resilient, it is also vulnerable.
Climate change has made seasons more unpredictable, pests more aggressive and operating costs more volatile. Heat does not just hurt cows – it weakens grass growth, strains water supplies and forces more energy use to cool facilities.
Luckily, some rain is in the forecast, though expected as potentially severe thunderstorms. Temperatures are also easing, but the relief may be brief, with highs once again nearing 30C (86F) in Cervignano d'Adda by Sunday.
