Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events that impose significant welfare costs on farm animals globally.
Extreme weather events represent a growing welfare crisis for farm animals as climate change intensifies. Broiler chickens, designed for rapid growth in climate-controlled barns, are particularly vulnerable to heat events when ventilation systems fail. Cattle and sheep in extensive systems can be caught in floods or blizzards without adequate shelter. Farm animal disaster response is vastly underfunded and underplanned compared to companion animal response, despite far larger numbers of animals involved. Climate adaptation planning for agriculture must include welfare considerations for the animals in these systems.