Closeup of dairy cow in pastureWith the planet’s hottest-ever summer on record now behind us, dairy producers are more mindful than ever of heat stress and its impact on milk production. The risk of heat stress continues to rise around the globe. Research out of Italy suggests there could be anywhere from 30 to 90 more days of heat stress per year due to rising temperatures and humidity levels.

Heat-stressed cows produce less milk, contract illnesses and infections such as mastitis more frequently and reproduce less efficiently. This costs the industry an estimated $13 billion, which could climb to a whopping $29.7 billion by 2050. This number does not account for animal deaths related to heat. Heat abatement remains critical for every dairy operation.

Read more on heat stress and mitigation tactics here.