Europe's Heat Wave Hits Livestock Industry Hard

Europe's livestock industry is facing significant challenges due to the heat wave that has affected major cattle regions such as France, Germany, Spain, and Ireland. The intense heat has led to reduced grass growth, stalling the usual summer grazing rhythm and making feed supplies tight.

Farmers are struggling to maintain their normal feed bill, with Denis Drennan from Kilkenny saying that his daily feed bill for cows has increased to €5.80 per cow, more than twice what he normally pays. The high cost of silage and concentrates is a major concern, as farmers are being forced to dip into their fodder stocks earlier than usual.

The European Commission expects green corn yields to be 12% below the five-year average, while soybean yields are projected to drop by 14%. This has led to a surge in demand for imports, with FEFAC estimating that Europe will need an additional 7 million tons of corn this year.

The heat wave has also affected milk production, with Ludovic Blin from France's National Federation of Milk Producers stating that some dairy farms have seen a 30% decrease in production. Dairy farmer Sophie Gregory from England has even gone so far as to put down cows early due to feed shortages.