By Abdullahi Lukman
Global warming could significantly impact global dairy production, with extreme heat and humidity slashing milk yields by nearly 10 percent, a new study published in Science Advances has found.
Researchers analyzed over 320 million daily milk production records spanning 12 years to assess how rising heat and humidity affect dairy cows.
They discovered that high temperatures not only reduce milk output but also have lingering effects lasting more than ten days—even when modern cooling systems are used.
The study, conducted in Israel, revealed that technologies such as ventilation and water spraying, though widely implemented, only halve the losses caused by heat stress.
The most productive cows are also the most vulnerable, leading researchers to identify a “productivity-resilience trade-off.”
The findings raise concerns for major dairy-producing nations like India, the U.S., China, and Pakistan, where rising temperatures could make such conditions routine.
South Asia, expected to lead in dairy production growth over the next decade, faces elevated risks due to worsening climate conditions.
By mid-century, annual milk yields could fall by as much as 4 percent in top-producing countries—even with mitigation technologies. Without them, losses are expected to be higher.
Researchers recommend exploring additional adaptation strategies, including improving cow welfare, modifying housing, and reducing other stress factors.
However, they caution that more studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of these alternatives.
The warning comes amid increasing global heat, with June 2025 recorded as the world’s third-warmest on record, according to Kazinform News Agency.