Farmed Animals

Livestock Heat Stress: Welfare in a Warming World

Rising global temperatures create escalating heat stress in farmed animals, reducing welfare, productivity, and health across cattle, pigs, and poultry operations.

Key Facts

Heat stress costs the US livestock industry over $1.7 billion annually in lost productivity
Cattle begin experiencing heat stress above 25 degrees Celsius with high humidity
Pigs cannot sweat and are especially vulnerable to heat-related mortality
Broiler chickens show panting and reduced feed intake at temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius
Climate change is projected to increase heat stress days by 50-100% by mid-century

Welfare Considerations

Heat stress causes significant animal suffering including hyperthermia, respiratory distress, reduced appetite, and in extreme cases death. Animals in intensive systems often lack adequate ventilation, shade, or cooling water. As climate change intensifies, this welfare crisis will worsen without proactive infrastructure investment and adaptive management.

What You Can Do

Support stronger heat stress regulations for intensive livestock facilities
Advocate for shade and cooling requirements in livestock welfare legislation
Reduce meat consumption to decrease the scale of animals exposed to these conditions
Support research into heat-tolerant breeds and climate-adapted farming systems