As global temperatures rise, heat stress in dairy cows is becoming a more serious welfare and productivity problem, requiring proactive farm management strategies.
Heat stress is an acute welfare problem: cows bunch together seeking shade, show panting and open-mouth breathing, reduce activity, and may develop metabolic acidosis. Chronic heat stress during late pregnancy reduces calf birth weight, immune function, and lifelong productivity. As climate change intensifies, farms without cooling infrastructure will face worsening welfare challenges. Sprinklers combined with forced ventilation are the most effective cooling interventions.