Heat stress is a leading cause of mortality and welfare compromise in broiler chickens globally, particularly as climate change intensifies summer temperatures. Effective thermal management is a critical welfare and production priority for the industry.
Heat stress causes genuine suffering: panting is energetically costly and indicates physiological strain, while severe heat stress causes cardiovascular collapse and painful death. The welfare impact scales to billions of birds during heat events in poorly ventilated facilities. Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of heat stress events globally, making thermal management investment increasingly urgent. Farms without effective cooling systems impose preventable suffering on birds during summer months. Consumer demand for welfare-certified poultry that includes thermal management standards can drive investment in ventilation infrastructure. Transitioning to slower-growing breeds with lower metabolic heat production also reduces heat stress vulnerability alongside other welfare benefits.