Natural disasters and extreme weather events pose acute welfare threats to farm animals. Effective emergency planning reduces mortality and suffering during crises.
Farm animals are acutely vulnerable to natural disasters. Their confinement in intensive systems makes evacuation impractical, and millions die each year from flood drowning, heat stroke, fire, and starvation following infrastructure failures. Pre-disaster planning including emergency water supplies, backup power for ventilation systems, feed reserves, and evacuation routes for mobile livestock significantly reduces welfare impacts. Post-disaster recovery including disease prevention, feed provision, and humane depopulation when necessary requires coordination between farmers, government, and animal welfare organisations. Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of welfare emergencies for farm animals.