Livestock Heat Stress Monitoring and Emergency Response

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of heat stress events in livestock, requiring improved monitoring and emergency response protocols.

Key Facts

Heat stress in dairy cows costs the US dairy industry an estimated $1.5 billion annually in losses
The temperature-humidity index (THI) above 68 indicates the onset of heat stress in dairy cattle
Pigs have limited heat dissipation capacity making them highly vulnerable to high temperatures
Poultry can experience acute death events when temperatures spike suddenly
Shade, ventilation, cooling systems and water provision are the primary heat stress mitigation tools
Heat stress in pregnancy causes impaired foetal development and reduced lifetime productivity

Welfare Considerations

Heat stress represents an increasing welfare risk as climate change shifts temperature distributions toward more frequent extreme heat events. Animals kept in systems designed for historical climate conditions are increasingly exposed to temperatures exceeding their thermoregulatory capacity. Welfare-focused heat stress management requires proactive preparation before heat events including shade provision, cooling system maintenance and increased water supply, rather than reactive response after animals show clinical signs. Emergency response protocols for acute heat events including monitoring for prostrate animals and emergency cooling are welfare-critical.

What You Can Do

Assess farm heat stress mitigation capacity before summer heat events occur
Develop written heat stress emergency response protocols with clear trigger points
Ensure all livestock have access to adequate shade and increased water in hot weather
Advocate for climate change to be addressed in farm animal welfare policy frameworks