Abstract
The aim of the research is to determine the impact of meteorological conditions during the grazing period on the milk productivity of cows in the southern regions of Russia, in order to further develop adaptation measures. The research was carried out in 2017–2024 in the steppe zone of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, using a herd of cows of the Red Steppe breed (700 heads). Observations of the total amount of precipitation, average daily temperature and air humidity, and daily milk yield were carried out throughout the grazing period (May – September). It was found that during the study period, the amount of precipitation varied from 191.0 mm (2020) to 510.0 mm (2021). The average air temperature from 2019 to 2023 changed slightly – 22–23 °C – and only in certain decades of July and August in 2021 and 2022 did it rise above 30 °C. The period with the minimum air humidity (up to 52.6 %) lasted 77 days, and the period with the maximum air humidity (over 87.1 % and above) was 79 days. At the same time, the highest daily milk yield was obtained at high air humidity; the difference amounted to 637.7 kg (P<0.05). The highest daily milk yield (in 6 of the 8 years of the study) was obtained in May, which was characterized by optimal hydrothermal conditions: an air temperature of approximately 19.9 °C, a relative humidity of 72.7 %, and sufficient precipita-tion. High ambient temperatures had a significant negative impact cow productivity, with a reduction of 14.200 kg (P < 0.05). It has been established that air humidity contributes to the partial stabilization of temperature conditions; however, the negative impact of humidity on milk productivity was observed only at extreme values – above 87.1 %, which has been statistically confirmed (P<0.05). Within the optimal range (50–75 %), air humidity acted as a stabilizing factor, partially compensating for the negative effects of high temperatures.