Heat stress is an increasing welfare challenge for cattle as temperatures rise. Understanding the physiology and management of heat stress helps producers protect animal welfare in a warming climate.
Heat stress in cattle causes acute physiological distress measurable through behaviour, respiration, and production indicators. Severely heat-stressed cows display open-mouth panting, reluctance to move, and clustering near water. Without shade, fans, or sprinklers, cattle in hot conditions experience prolonged discomfort. The welfare challenge is compounding: as climate change increases heat stress frequency and intensity, producers who have not invested in cooling infrastructure will face increasing welfare problems. Proactive investment in heat abatement is both a welfare and production imperative.