Pigs are particularly susceptible to heat stress due to their limited ability to sweat, making climate adaptation in pig housing an increasingly urgent welfare priority.
Pigs in poorly ventilated housing during heat waves experience prolonged physiological heat stress with elevated respiratory rates, reduced feed intake, and in severe cases heat stroke and death. The inability to sweat means pigs depend entirely on their environment for cooling — they cannot self-regulate when environmental temperatures are extreme. Climate change makes heat wave frequency and severity increasing threats to pig welfare across major production regions. Investment in ventilation upgrades, cooling systems, and heat contingency protocols for indoor pig farms represents essential climate adaptation for welfare.