Heat stress is one of the most significant and widespread welfare problems in dairy and beef cattle, causing measurable suffering for millions of animals as global temperatures rise.
Heat stress in farmed cattle represents a large-scale, chronic welfare problem that causes genuine suffering measurable in behavior and physiology. Cattle in heat stress show increased respiration (panting), reduced rumination, reduced activity, and behavioral changes indicating discomfort. Sustained heat stress causes immune suppression leading to increased mastitis, lameness, and metabolic disease. The welfare impact is compounded in high-producing dairy cows whose metabolism already generates excess heat. Climate change is worsening this problem significantly. Cost-effective welfare improvements — shade structures, misters, fans, and access to clean cool water — are frequently not provided even though they would also improve producer profitability.