Global warming and the growing consumer demand for animal-derived food and meat, particularly in newlyindustrialising countries with hot climates, raise public concerns on animal welfare, long-term sustainable livestock production and food and consumer safety. In these areas, heat stress is one major reason for economic losses in livestock production. Tobias Aumiller, Xiaodan
Zhou, Ester Vinyeta, Jan Dirk van der Klis, and Andreas S. Müller, of Delacon Biotechnik GmbH, explain that besides lowering the quality of forage and feedstuffs, a hot and humid climate reduces reproduction performance and productivity of livestock animals. Moreover, heat stress affects general health and the susceptibility of farm animals to infectious diseases.