Heat stress in dairy and beef cattle causes significant welfare impacts and production losses, and is becoming more severe as climate change increases summer temperatures.
Heat stress causes genuine suffering in cattle — elevated heart rates, labored breathing, and behavioral changes indicate acute discomfort, while chronic heat stress suppresses immune function and reproduction. The welfare solution is well-established: shade, ventilation, and evaporative cooling dramatically reduce heat load. The challenge is that intensive systems with high stocking densities make effective cooling harder to achieve, and outdoor systems often provide inadequate shade infrastructure. Climate change is making this increasingly urgent as heat stress events intensify. Consumer pressure for welfare certification that includes thermal comfort standards in all seasons drives the supply chain investment needed.