Drought and heatwaves impact Italian livestock and dairy production

Extreme heat and severe drought are causing significant disruptions to livestock farming and dairy production in Northern Italy. In the Trentino region, record temperatures and a lack of precipitation have scorched pastures and exhausted water sources, forcing farmers to dig into the ground to find moisture for their animals. The conditions have led to the deaths of cattle that fell while searching for grass or water.

In the Valtellina area, the drought is impacting the production of milk and traditional cheeses, such as Bitto. High temperatures have caused cows to produce less milk, while the lack of fresh high-altitude grass has forced herders to move livestock back to valley floors several weeks earlier than usual. This shift disrupts the traditional transhumance calendar and threatens the seasonal output of local dairy industries.