Livestock Heat Stress: A Growing Welfare and Production Crisis

Climate change is intensifying heat stress in livestock globally, causing significant welfare harms and production losses. Adaptation is both a welfare and agricultural imperative.

Key Facts

Heat stress costs the US livestock industry over $2.4 billion annually in production losses
Dairy cows show significant production decline when temperatures exceed 25°C with high humidity
Pigs are particularly vulnerable to heat stress as they cannot sweat and have limited panting capacity
Broiler chickens in poorly ventilated sheds suffer acute suffering and mass mortality events during heat waves
Climate projections indicate increasing frequency and intensity of heat events in major livestock regions

Welfare Considerations

Heat stress in livestock is a welfare emergency that is becoming more frequent and severe with climate change. Mass mortality events in broiler sheds and pig units during heat waves represent acute, large-scale suffering that is preventable. But chronic sub-lethal heat stress — reducing feed intake, impairing reproduction, suppressing immunity — causes widespread welfare compromise that rarely makes headlines despite affecting billions of animals. Adaptation investment, including shade, ventilation, and cooling systems, is a welfare obligation.

What You Can Do

Support livestock welfare standards that require adequate heat stress mitigation infrastructure
Advocate for climate action that reduces the severity and frequency of heat events
Choose animal products from farms with documented heat stress management programs
Support research into heat-tolerant livestock breeds and species-appropriate housing design
Back farm welfare organizations that are integrating climate adaptation into welfare standards