Climate and Animals

Heat Stress in Livestock: A Growing Crisis

Climate change is intensifying heat stress in livestock populations worldwide. Heat stress causes suffering, reduces productivity, and kills animals, making it both a welfare and an agricultural crisis.

Key Facts

Heat stress costs the US livestock industry over 2 billion dollars annually
Cattle show behavioral distress including panting and bunching in shade when temperatures exceed 27 degrees Celsius
Pregnant animals are particularly vulnerable to heat stress impacts on both mother and offspring
Poultry in confinement systems are highly susceptible to heat death events during power outages
Projections show heat stress days for livestock increasing 50-150% by 2100 in many regions

Welfare Considerations

Heat stress causes suffering through hyperthermia, dehydration, and metabolic disruption. Animals in confined systems have no behavioral options to thermoregulate effectively, placing the entire burden on management and infrastructure. Climate change is making heat stress more frequent, severe, and geographically widespread, creating an urgent welfare challenge that will only grow with inaction on emissions.

What You Can Do

Support climate action policies that will reduce long-term heat stress on animals
Advocate for heat mitigation infrastructure standards in livestock operations
Support research on heat-tolerant breeds and housing design
Reduce meat and dairy consumption to lower emissions contributing to heat stress
Donate to organizations documenting climate-animal welfare interactions