Heat wave causes loss of 50 mn litres of Italian milk

(ANSA) - Milan, July 16 - An early July heat wave with temperatures reaching nearly 40 degrees Celcius in parts of northern Italy has put cows under stress and brought about the loss of 50 million litres of milk, said Coldiretti farmers' group on Thursday.
    The group said the situation is 'worrisome', most of all in the Po Valley, and said 20 of the 50 million litres of milk have been lost in the region of Lombardy.
    Despite the use of shower sprays and fans to cool the cows, they are drinking as much as 140 litres of water a day compared to their usual 70 litres per day.