Agricultural adaptation to climate change requires changes in species, breeds, and systems that have direct implications for farm animal welfare under new climate conditions.
Climate adaptation in agriculture creates welfare tradeoffs that must be explicitly managed. Heat-tolerant breed adoption can improve welfare by matching animal physiology to climate, but may select for production traits that carry their own welfare costs. Transitioning from pasture to indoor production to escape heat can reduce heat stress while introducing intensive system welfare problems. Shade and cooling infrastructure investments directly benefit animal welfare and should be mandated as standard practice in warming regions. The welfare of farm animals under climate change requires proactive planning that keeps welfare as an explicit design criterion in adaptation strategies rather than an afterthought.