Impact of Climate Change on Farm Animals: Physiological Mechanisms, Health and Productivity, and Integrated Adaptation Strategies

Abstract

Simple Summary This review provides an integrated synthesis of the impacts of climate change-induced heat stress on the physiological, metabolic, and cellular mechanisms of major livestock species (ruminants, monogastrics, and poultry), alongside advanced mitigation strategies. Economic losses are profound, exceeding an estimated $59–86 billion globally per year, driven by heat-induced declines in voluntary feed intake, daily weight gain, milk production, reproductive conception rates, and egg yield. With climate models projecting an increased frequency and severity of extreme thermal events, achieving sustainable livestock resilience necessitates coordinated interventions spanning molecular nutrition, environmental engineering, genomic selection, and Precision Livestock Farming (PLF).