Heat stress in dairy cattle causes significant welfare suffering and production losses, requiring proactive heat abatement measures during warm periods.
Dairy cattle heat stress represents a welfare issue with substantial economic costs that should create natural incentives for producer investment in abatement. Heat-stressed cows show behavioral indicators of discomfort including increased standing time to maximize surface area for heat dissipation, reduced feed intake, and reproductive failure. The welfare harm of chronic heat stress over summer months is compounded by its effects on the developing fetus of pregnant cows. Shade, water access, and evaporative cooling dramatically reduce heat stress welfare harm.