Climate change is increasing heat stress risk for livestock globally, creating expanding welfare challenges that require proactive adaptation in farm management and animal housing.
Heat stress is a welfare problem that will worsen significantly as climate change drives higher temperatures and more frequent extreme heat events across traditional livestock production regions. The suffering of heat-stressed animals is real and measurable: elevated core temperature, open-mouth breathing, reduced activity, clustering at water sources, and in severe cases prostration and death. The problem is particularly acute for intensively housed animals that cannot seek shade, natural water, or airflow independently. Welfare-conscious climate adaptation requires investing in cooling infrastructure, modifying stocking densities during heat events, providing adequate water access, and in some cases reconsidering the viability of intensive livestock production in regions facing severe heat stress risks.