Rising global temperatures are intensifying heat stress in farm animals, threatening both animal welfare and agricultural productivity in ways that demand urgent adaptation.
Climate change is converting heat stress from an occasional welfare problem into a chronic, worsening welfare emergency for farm animals. Animals experiencing heat stress suffer physiologically from cardiovascular strain, respiratory distress, and immune suppression, while also showing behavioral indicators of distress including reduced activity and feed intake. The welfare and economic impacts are aligned: heat stress harms animals and reduces production simultaneously. This alignment creates market incentives for producer adaptation, but adaptation investment must be matched to the scale of the problem. Genetic selection for heat tolerance deserves more weight in livestock breeding programs given the trajectory of climate change.