Chile Could Lose Up to 8 Litres of Milk per Cow Daily
A study has estimated that Chile could lose up to 8 litres of milk per cow per day as heat stress affects dairy cattle. The estimate concerns the potential impact of heat linked to the El Niño climate pattern.
The study describes the possible effect in terms of milk lost from each animal during a day. Its estimate applies to dairy cattle in Chile and is presented as a potential impact rather than a reported national production total.
The same assessment places the associated economic losses at between $29m and $108.4m per season. The figures represent different estimates produced according to the indicator used in the study.
The lower and upper amounts therefore refer to separate measurements within the study’s assessment. The source does not identify one single value as the definitive estimate for the season.
Heat stress is identified in the study as the relevant condition affecting dairy cattle, while El Niño is cited in connection with the heat. The available findings do not provide further details on the number of animals covered, the duration of the season or the geographic distribution of the estimated losses within Chile.
The reported figures combine an estimate of milk loss per cow per day with a broader estimate of economic damage over a season. Together, they set out the study’s assessment of the possible consequences for Chile’s dairy sector.
