Farm animals in South Bohemia find relief from heat in tree belts and stone barns

Farm animals in South Bohemia are seeking relief from extreme temperatures by sheltering in tree belts and stone barns. Some local farmers are letting cows, sheep, and horses graze in pastures at night and keeping them inside cooler buildings during the hottest parts of the day. The ongoing drought has reduced grass growth in meadows, forcing farmers to supplement their livestock’s diet with winter hay supplies. Water sources are also drying up, increasing costs for water transportation as well as electricity needed to cool the animals.

“We are concerned that the animals have nothing to eat because nothing is growing anywhere,” said Hana Šťastná, director of the Regional Agrarian Chamber of the South Bohemian Region.