Heat stress is already causing significant welfare suffering in billions of farm animals and will intensify with climate change, requiring urgent changes to housing, breeds, and production systems to protect welfare.
Heat stress causes acute suffering including panting, reduced feed intake, elevated body temperature, and in severe cases death from heat exhaustion. The welfare impact affects billions of farm animals annually and will worsen as temperatures increase. Animals in intensive systems with limited ventilation face the greatest risk, but outdoor animals without adequate shade also suffer during heat events. The welfare imperative to protect animals from heat stress requires both immediate management interventions and longer-term adaptation of production systems.