How rising temperatures affect livestock welfare globally, the physiological and behavioral impacts of heat stress, and the management interventions that reduce suffering during heat events.
Livestock heat stress is a current, ongoing welfare problem that is worsening with climate change. Millions of animals experience significant heat-related suffering annually, and the proportion of time spent above stress thresholds is increasing in most major livestock-producing regions. The welfare interventions are available and relatively affordable — shade, ventilation, cooling systems, and modified feeding schedules — but implementation varies enormously across production systems. High-production genetics in dairy cattle and commercial poultry are particularly vulnerable to heat stress because metabolic heat production is directly related to production level. Welfare-centered livestock management treats heat mitigation infrastructure as essential rather than optional, and acknowledges that production animals have thermal comfort needs that must be met regardless of ambient temperature.