Livestock Heat Stress: Welfare and Climate Change

Rising temperatures from climate change are intensifying heat stress in farm animals, causing significant welfare harm and production losses that require urgent management responses.

Key Facts

Dairy cows experience significant heat stress above 25 degrees Celsius, reducing feed intake and milk production
Broiler chickens show mortality increases and growth depression during heat waves
Pigs are particularly susceptible to heat stress due to their limited ability to sweat
Heat stress costs the US livestock industry an estimated 2.4 billion dollars annually
Shade, water, and ventilation are effective but not universally provided interventions
Climate projections indicate a significant expansion of heat stress days in major livestock producing regions

Welfare Considerations

Heat stress causes physiological suffering including elevated respiration rates, reduced feed intake, lethargy, and in severe cases death. Animals confined in buildings without adequate ventilation or cooling are particularly vulnerable. The welfare harm of heat stress is not just acute discomfort but chronic physiological stress that suppresses immune function, increases disease susceptibility, and reduces reproductive success. As temperatures rise, heat stress will affect an increasing proportion of global livestock.

What You Can Do

Support livestock welfare standards that mandate heat stress prevention measures
Advocate for climate-resilient farm animal housing standards in building regulations
Choose animal products from farms with documented heat stress management programs
Back research into heat-tolerant breed development for climate adaptation
Raise awareness that climate change is creating new categories of animal welfare harm in farming