Climate change is increasing heat stress risk for farm animals globally. Effective heat stress management reduces suffering and production losses in warming agricultural systems.
Livestock heat stress welfare is a growing priority as climate change intensifies temperature extremes. Heat-stressed cattle experience physiological distress including elevated respiration rate, increased water consumption, and metabolic disruption. Severe heat stress causes mortality in poultry and sometimes cattle and pigs. Proactive heat stress management through shade provision, ventilation, evaporative cooling, and adjusted feeding schedules significantly reduces suffering. High-producing dairy cows are particularly vulnerable as metabolic heat production adds to environmental load. Climate adaptation planning for livestock systems must prioritise welfare alongside production continuity as heat stress events become more frequent and severe.