Chronic psychological stress in livestock from poor housing, social instability, and fear of humans has wide-ranging health and welfare consequences beyond acute stress responses.
Chronic stress welfare is distinct from acute stress because it accumulates over time and causes systemic health deterioration through sustained activation of stress response systems. HPA axis dysregulation from chronic stress affects immune competence, reproduction, growth, and behavioural resilience. The welfare significance is that chronically stressed animals are not merely unhappy in the moment but suffer ongoing health consequences from sustained negative affective states. Addressing chronic stress sources — fear, social instability, environmental barrenness, competition — reduces suffering and produces measurable improvements in health and production.