Environmental Heat Stress Mitigation in Livestock Farms Using Nature-Based Cooling Systems

Abstract

The escalating heat stress situations and global temperature increase is a significant problem to the livestock welfare, productivity and the sustainability of agro-ecosystems especially in the climatically sensitive areas. The research question that is examined in this study is how nature-based cooling systems, i.e., vegetative shading structures, evaporative cooling ponds, and windbreak tree belts, can alter the farm microclimates and reduce heat stress levels in cattle and small ruminant production units. The microenvironmental parameters, including ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, and Thermal Humidity Index (THI) were recorded continuously over a period of 90 days in a summer in the southern hemisphere through a set of automated dataloggers, whereas physiological parameters of animal heat stress, including the respiration rate, panting score, and rectal temperature were measured under specific intervals. The cooling interventions were integrated with significant changes of the microclimatic conditions with a decrease in the ambient temperature by 2.846C, increase in the local humidity by 47% and moderate wind velocities and a significant reduction in THI values of extreme to moderate stress levels of the measurements. In line with this, livestock confined in treated areas had significant respiration rates and scores of panting reduced, and were more responsive in their behaviour, in terms of increased time in rest and continuous control feeding, suggesting better thermal comfort and welfare. In addition to microclimate regulation, vegetative systems had other ecological advantages, such as increased soil moisture availability by 12 -17 percent, greater ground vegetation cover, and biodiversity indices because of favourable habitat conditions along shelterbelts and pond margins. Such results reveal that nature based cooling systems provide a sustainable, low-cost and energy-efficient option to traditional types of mechanical cooling technology, which could enhance climate-resilient livestock production systems. The research highlights the importance of incorporating ecological design concepts in farm management initiatives to prevent heat stress, enhance animal welfare, and ensure the sustainability of the environment in the long term in changing climatic conditions.