Livestock Welfare in Extreme Weather Events

Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme heat, floods and storms that pose acute welfare threats to livestock, requiring proactive management planning.

Key Facts

Extreme heat events are the leading cause of mass livestock mortality in climate change projections
Cattle can tolerate up to 25 degrees Celsius comfortably; above 35 degrees Celsius causes heat stress
Shade, water access and ventilation are the primary tools for heat stress mitigation
Flooding kills livestock directly and indirectly through disease, injury and feed contamination
Climate adaptation in livestock farming requires both housing modifications and breed selection

Welfare Considerations

Extreme weather welfare risks are growing rapidly as climate change increases the frequency of heatwaves, floods and storms. Livestock that cannot be moved to shelter during heatwaves experience acute suffering and can die within hours. Shade provision — often absent in outdoor systems — dramatically reduces heat stress. Emergency protocols for extreme weather events must be part of every farm's management plan. Breed selection is increasingly important — heat-tolerant breeds are more resilient to warming trends. Proactive adaptation now prevents acute welfare crises in the future.

What You Can Do

Support standards requiring shade and water access for all outdoor livestock
Advocate for climate adaptation requirements in agricultural welfare policy
Donate to farm animal welfare organisations working on climate resilience
Choose products from farms with documented extreme weather emergency protocols