As climate change increases frequency and severity of heat waves, livestock welfare during extreme heat events demands urgent attention.
Livestock heat stress welfare is a growing crisis as climate change increases the frequency of dangerous heat events. Heat stress causes progressive physiological harm: increased respiratory rate, reduced feed intake, immune suppression, reproductive failure, and ultimately death. Poultry are particularly vulnerable - their limited ability to thermoregulate combined with high stocking densities in closed sheds can create mass mortality events within hours of ventilation failure. Investment in cooling infrastructure, heat emergency protocols, and climate-adapted housing designs is essential for maintaining welfare standards under changing climate conditions.