Researchers say milk production has fallen by an estimated 240 million litres following a series of extreme heatwaves that impaired pasture growth and grazing conditions.
The study, released by a team of agricultural scientists, attributes the decline primarily to sustained high temperatures that reduced the availability and quality of forage for dairy herds. According to the researchers, poorer grazing led to lower yields at farm level over the affected period.
Farmers and processors are likely to feel the immediate effects of the shortfall, the report says, as reduced output can tighten supplies for milk processors and distributors. The magnitude of the drop—240 million litres—stands out as a sizable reduction for the dairy sector and could have downstream impacts on production planning.
The researchers emphasise that extreme weather episodes were the main driver behind the losses and say the findings underline the vulnerability of pasture-based dairy systems to climate extremes. They call for continued monitoring and adaptation measures to help manage the risks posed by more frequent or severe heat events.
Further analysis will be needed to quantify the financial cost to farmers and to identify the most effective responses, the study concludes. For now, the assessment provides a snapshot of how recent weather extremes have translated into measurable losses in milk output.