Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of heat stress events in cattle. Animals unable to thermoregulate suffer productivity losses and welfare harm that are becoming more common and severe.
Heat stress in cattle represents a growing welfare crisis driven by climate change. Animals unable to find shade on pasture or in feedlots during extreme heat events experience extended physiological stress that manifests as elevated respiration, reduced activity, and immune compromise. The welfare costs are real and increasing. Climate adaptation in cattle production requires a combination of infrastructure investment in shade and cooling, genetic selection for heat tolerance, and production system changes that reduce stocking densities in high-risk regions.