Heat stress is a growing welfare challenge in livestock farming as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of hot weather events, requiring proactive cooling infrastructure investment.
Livestock heat stress is a welfare problem with a straightforward prevention strategy: provide shade, airflow, and water access. The barriers are economic - retrofitting cooling systems to existing buildings is costly, and outdoor shade structures require capital investment. As climate change intensifies UK summers, heat stress events that were previously exceptional will become routine, making these investments increasingly necessary for both welfare and production reasons. Farm welfare standards that specify heat stress management requirements - shade, ventilation, water access, modified feeding management during hot weather - provide the regulatory framework for requiring this investment. Climate adaptation planning for farming should make heat stress mitigation a priority.