Heat stress in cattle causes significant welfare harm and production losses. As global temperatures rise, effective heat mitigation is increasingly important for cattle welfare.
Heat stress causes measurable suffering in cattle, including panting, reduced activity, crowding around water, and physiological changes indicating acute distress. Chronic heat stress compromises immune function and reproductive health. Climate change is making heat stress more frequent and severe across major cattle-producing regions. Effective mitigation requires shade, abundant fresh water, modified feeding schedules (feeding in cooler evening hours), and active cooling systems in intensive settings. Breed selection for heat tolerance is increasingly important.