Livestock Heat Stress Management

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of heat stress in UK livestock, causing welfare harm through reduced feed intake, reproductive failure, and death during extreme events.

Key Facts

Holstein dairy cows begin experiencing heat stress at temperatures exceeding 22 degrees Celsius
Heat stress reduces milk production by up to 25% and reduces conception rates significantly
UK heatwaves in 2022 caused documented livestock welfare emergencies on poorly prepared farms
Shade, water access, and ventilation are the primary heat stress mitigation tools
Sprinkler cooling in dairy barns reduces heat stress indicators significantly
Broiler chickens are particularly vulnerable - mortality can spike rapidly during heat events

Welfare Considerations

Livestock heat stress causes genuine acute and chronic welfare harm. Dairy cows in heat stress show reduced feed intake, increased panting, altered social behaviour, and reproductive failure. Prolonged heat stress affects immune function, increasing disease susceptibility. Extreme heat events can cause death - broiler chickens in poorly ventilated sheds can die within hours of a temperature spike. These welfare harms are largely preventable through farm infrastructure investment and management planning. As UK summers become hotter and more variable under climate change, heat stress management transitions from optional good practice to essential welfare responsibility.

What You Can Do

Advocate for heat stress management to be included in all livestock welfare assurance schemes
Support shade structure provision requirements in outdoor livestock welfare standards
Choose dairy from farms with documented climate adaptation and heat stress management
Back research into breed selection that improves heat tolerance without welfare trade-offs
Raise climate adaptation planning as a welfare responsibility with farming organisations