Livestock in Extreme Weather: Preparing for the New Climate Reality

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events that cause mass livestock suffering, and preparation for these events is now an essential component of responsible animal husbandry.

Key Facts

Heat waves cause thermal stress, reduced productivity, and death in livestock — the 2019 European heat wave killed an estimated 1 million chickens in the Netherlands alone
Flooding can trap and drown livestock, contaminate feed and water supplies, and create disease outbreaks in survivors
Drought causes chronic nutritional stress, reduced water access, and increased disease vulnerability in grazing livestock
Cold snaps cause hypothermia in newborn animals, particularly lambs and piglets born during late-winter storms
Cyclones and hurricanes have caused millions of livestock deaths in a single event in regions including the southern US and Southeast Asia
Emergency contingency planning for livestock, including evacuation routes and temporary shelter, is a regulatory requirement in some jurisdictions but is rarely practised effectively
Climate-smart livestock management including shade provision, water security, and feed storage can reduce extreme weather mortality significantly

Welfare Considerations

Livestock suffering during extreme weather events is a rapidly growing welfare crisis that will worsen as climate change intensifies. Animals caught in floods, heat waves, and droughts experience acute suffering — drowning, heat stroke, starvation, and dehydration. The suffering is often on a massive scale, affecting thousands of animals per event. The welfare case for proactive farm emergency planning, climate-resilient infrastructure, and ultimately for reducing livestock populations in vulnerable regions is compelling. Farmers need support — financial and technical — to adapt their operations before extreme events occur rather than responding after the fact.

What You Can Do

Support farm emergency preparedness programs that help livestock producers plan for extreme weather events
Advocate for climate-resilient livestock housing requirements including shade, ventilation, and flood-safe design
Support agricultural policies that incentivise emergency water storage and feed reserves on livestock farms
Donate to organisations that respond to livestock welfare emergencies following floods, fires, and other disasters
Engage with the link between climate change and livestock welfare when discussing food system sustainability
Support schemes that help smallholder farmers in climate-vulnerable regions access emergency veterinary assistance
Reduce meat and dairy consumption to reduce the total livestock population exposed to increasing climate risk