Rising temperatures from climate change are intensifying heat stress in farmed animals, threatening welfare and productivity across all production systems.
Heat stress in farm animals is physiologically significant: panting and sweating to maintain core temperature diverts energy from immune function, reproduction, and growth. Severe heat stress causes mortality events — entire poultry houses have been lost to heatwaves. As climate zones shift poleward and extreme heat events become more frequent, farms designed for temperate conditions are increasingly stressed. Welfare-improving adaptations include shade provision, ventilation upgrades, cooling systems for high-value or heat-sensitive animals, and breeding selection for heat tolerance. The welfare and economic cases for heat stress mitigation are aligned.