Heat stress is a growing welfare and productivity crisis in cattle farming as global temperatures rise. Understanding its impacts drives adoption of effective mitigation strategies.
Heat stress in farmed cattle causes significant welfare compromise. Animals experiencing heat stress show increased respiration rates, reduced movement, altered posture, and cessation of normal behavior. The welfare cost is compounded by the chronic nature of heat exposure during summer months. Dairy cows in heat stress produce inflammatory hormones that affect both their own health and the development of calves in utero, creating welfare impacts that span generations. Climate change is expanding the geographic range and duration of heat stress conditions, making mitigation investments increasingly urgent. Shade structures, cooling systems, and night feeding are practical interventions that simultaneously improve welfare and economic outcomes for producers.