Livestock in tropical and subtropical regions face chronic heat stress that significantly impairs welfare, productivity, and disease resistance, with climate change intensifying these challenges.
Tropical livestock welfare is inseparable from climate adaptation. Chronic heat stress in poorly adapted animals in tropical environments causes persistent physiological and psychological suffering that impairs all dimensions of welfare. Native breeds adapted to local conditions through centuries of natural selection have lower welfare costs under heat stress than high-production exotic breeds, but produce less under optimal conditions. Welfare-conscious breed selection for tropical environments requires balancing productivity with inherent heat tolerance. Low-cost management improvements including shade trees, wallows, and adjusted grazing times produce rapid welfare improvements at minimal cost. Climate change makes these adaptations increasingly urgent.