Heat stress is a major welfare and productivity issue for dairy and beef cattle worldwide, particularly as climate change intensifies. Effective management strategies exist but are not universally adopted.
Heat stress causes genuine suffering in cattle including panting, reduced feed intake, lethargy, and in severe cases death. Beyond acute suffering, chronic heat stress impairs immune function and increases disease susceptibility. As global temperatures rise, heat stress management is becoming an increasingly urgent animal welfare priority. Farms that fail to provide adequate cooling infrastructure are causing preventable suffering.