Rising temperatures from climate change are increasing heat stress in livestock, causing reduced welfare, productivity and mortality in farm animals not adapted to a warming world.
Heat stress causes panting, reduced feed intake, elevated body temperature, compromised immunity and increased mortality. Dairy cows in heat stress show reduced reproductive performance and higher mastitis rates. Pigs and poultry in intensive housing with poor ventilation face potentially lethal temperatures during UK heatwaves. Climate change is making these events more frequent and severe.