Heat stress in cattle is a major welfare problem exacerbated by climate change, with significant impacts on health, production and behaviour requiring proactive management.
Heat stress causes genuine suffering including panting, crowding around water, reduced lying time and altered social behaviour. In severe cases, heat stroke can be fatal. As global temperatures rise, heat stress management is becoming an increasingly critical welfare and production challenge across cattle-raising regions worldwide. Shade, water access, ventilation and housing modifications are all evidence-based interventions.