Extreme heat and water shortages are causing big problems for dairy farmers in north-west England. At Lea Manor Farm, which is part of the 349-year-old Grosvenor empire, the weather is changing. Now, half of England and Wales officially face drought conditions. This makes it hard for the farm to produce enough milk.
The farm has a very large herd of 2,600 Holstein friesian cows. These cows produce more than 34 million litres of milk every year. However, the heat is a major problem for these animals. When temperatures go above 25ยฐC, the cows feel bad. They move less and have less energy. They also eat less food. Because they eat less, they produce much less milk. In June, when the temperature reached 36ยฐC, each cow produced up to six litres less milk per day than usual.
To help the cows, the farm uses new technology. They have a sprinkler system to cool the air. The cows live in large, airy barns so the wind can move through them. The farm also uses machines to help. There is a milking carousel to collect the milk. There are also special robots that clean the cows to keep them healthy. These tools are very important because they help the farm manage 2,600 cows during hot weather. As the climate changes and the drought continues, these machines and cooling methods will be necessary to keep the cows healthy and produce milk.