The hot July sun and the heat wave that has hit our country are hard for many citizens to bear. In addition to people, extremely high temperatures are the hardest to bear for livestock. Milk production has been reduced on Semberija farms, and farmers have equipped themselves with modern cooling devices to prevent heatstroke in cows.
After losing several heads last year due to heatstroke and extreme heat, the Semberija farm is currently making additional efforts to cool the cows, which, among animals, have the greatest difficulty in enduring high temperatures.
RADOSLAV SEKULIĆ, chief technologist in livestock production at PD “Semberija”:
“We currently have about 360 heads of Montbiliar dairy breed, a combined type with high milk potential, at the milking parlor, however, high temperatures and humidity have a depressing effect on the result. As for heatstroke, we have not had a single one so far. We have cooling fans, we are cooling the roof structure.”
Due to high temperatures, milk yields on some farms have been reduced by up to 30%, producers say.
RADENKO ARSENOVIĆ, milk producer:
“Now the buyers have lowered our prices by five pfennigs, and there are cows that have lost 30% because beef tolerates -15 better than plus 40. Now our prices are falling, and so is production.”
The relevant ministry points out that milk production is one of the most challenging, but they expect milk production to be at last year’s level.
SAŠA LALIĆ, Assistant Minister of Agriculture of the RS for the Veterinary Sector:
“In 2023, we had a production of 124 million liters of milk. In ’24, it increased to 130 million. I am talking about milk that is being purchased and primed by the ministry. We always follow these trends and there are always different trends in the first half of the year, then for about three months when there is a decrease in production, milk yield. We will follow this year as well, but according to all parameters, we should have production at least at the level of last year.”
Experts advise that, as with humans, large amounts of water are crucial for plants and animals so that the body can cool down.
In addition to a decrease in milk yield and heat stroke, high temperatures can cause a number of other problems on farms, which is why experts urge farmers to pay special attention during the summer months and high temperatures.
