South Bohemia farmers combat heat wave with shelters and water trucks

Farmers in South Bohemia are coping with an intense heat wave that has dried pastures and depleted water sources. To protect cattle, sheep and horses, they are using stone barns, traditional shelters (remízky) and forest shade, and moving animals to cooler buildings at night.

Regional Agrarian Chamber director Hana Šťastná said, "The animals have nothing to eat because nothing grows, and water sources are drying up, so we have to bring water in tankers. It is essential that pastures provide shade, trees or shelters." Farmers also report rising electricity costs for cooling and reduced milk yields and weight gain. Zdeněk Misař, who runs a farm with 500 cows and 750 bulls, noted that solid feed stocks from the previous year help them survive the winter. Shepherd Michaela Dubová highlighted that wool from sheep is used as insulation in stone stables, while jockey club chair Zdeňka Koutná explained that horses are kept in cool mangers during the day and let out to graze at night.