Italian Farm Animals Get Air Conditioning
July 29, 2015 - With temperatures hitting 104 degrees, Italy is experiencing its worst heatwave in ten years. Residents and tourists are not the only ones suffering. Italian farm animals, in particular those confined to barns, are sweltering in the summer heat. This translates to lower milk production by stressed dairy cows, as well as fewer eggs being laid by chickens. Even the pigs have gone on a hunger strike.
According to the Coldiretti Farm Association, "Stressed dairy cows produced 50 million fewer litres of milk than usual during the first two weeks of July." Egg production is down by five to ten percent and hogs are slimming down instead of fattening up. Many Italian farmers have launched a counter-offensive against the heat by providing their cows and pigs with fans, showers, and even air conditioning.
In the meantime, the zoo in Rome is giving its primates and bears popsicles (made from frozen fruits and vegetables) and Milan is allowing its barristers to shed their heavy black robes. Tourists are being offered free water bottles over at the Roman colliseum. However their best bet might be to ditch their art and history itineraries and become agritourists instead. Then they can head over to one of those air conditioned barns and hang with the cows.
Cool Links
- Stressed Italian Cows Get Air Conditioned Sheds to Battle Heatwave (Reuters)
- Hot and Bothered Italian Farm Animals Need Cooling (Examiner)
- Italian Cows Given Showers as Italy Swelters During Its Worst Heatwave in Ten Years
- Italy: Farm Animals Get Air Conditioning for Heatwave (BBC News from Elsewhere)
