Livestock Welfare During Heat Waves

Extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and severe globally, and livestock welfare during heat waves requires proactive planning and infrastructure investment.

Key Facts

Heat waves have killed millions of livestock in events in the US, Australia, and Europe in recent years
High-yielding dairy cows are most vulnerable; metabolic heat output adds to ambient temperature effects
Shade, water access, and ventilation are the three most critical heat abatement measures
Evaporative cooling systems can reduce effective temperature by 5-10 degrees Celsius for housed livestock
Emergency preparedness plans for extreme heat events are becoming a standard component of farm biosecurity

Welfare Considerations

Heat wave livestock welfare is an acute, high-mortality risk that requires preparation rather than reactive response. When temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius, livestock can deteriorate within hours without adequate cooling. Farms without shade infrastructure, adequate water provision, or ventilation capacity cannot prevent suffering when extreme heat arrives. Building heat resilience into farm infrastructure — shade, water points, ventilation capacity — is a welfare investment that also protects productivity. Climate projections for most major livestock production regions suggest that heat wave frequency and intensity will increase, making proactive heat adaptation a critical welfare priority.

What You Can Do

Advocate for heat abatement infrastructure requirements in livestock farm licensing
Support research into cost-effective heat abatement solutions for different production systems
Choose meat and dairy from producers with documented heat management protocols
Engage with climate adaptation in livestock farming as a welfare priority
Support emergency response planning for livestock heat events in agriculture policy