Rising temperatures are intensifying heat stress in livestock globally. Cattle are particularly vulnerable, and the welfare consequences of inadequate heat mitigation will grow as climate change progresses.
Heat stress causes genuine suffering in cattle through physiological mechanisms well-documented in research. Elevated core body temperature triggers panting and sweating that exhausts animals and reduces their ability to maintain normal activity. Severe heat stress causes lethargy, reduced feed intake leading to weight loss, and in extreme cases heat stroke and death. Chronic moderate heat stress impairs reproduction and immunity, increasing disease vulnerability and reducing lifespan. As climate change extends and intensifies heat stress periods globally, addressing heat stress will become an increasingly critical component of livestock welfare. The welfare burden falls disproportionately on tropical region cattle already experiencing frequent stress events.