Heat stress is an increasingly critical challenge in cattle production, exacerbated by global climate change and a rising ambient temperature. This review explores the multifaceted impacts of heat stress on cattle, highlighting its effects on thermoregulation, metabolism, reproductive efficiency, milk production, growth performance, and overall animal welfare. Physiological and cellular mechanisms involved in heat stress response, including behavioral adaptations and the role of heat shock proteins, are also discussed in detail. The review also examined current mitigation strategies, such as environmental modifications, nutritional management, hormonal interventions, and assisted reproductive technologies. Special emphasis is placed on genetic strategies for improving thermotolerance, including the use of heat-adapted breeds, genomic selection, and identification of key molecular markers. While considerable progress has been made, challenges such as genetic antagonisms and limited resources in arid zones continue to hinder large-scale implementation. Integrating genetic selection with sustainable management practices offers a viable path toward improving cattle resilience and productivity under heat stress conditions.
Mohammed et al. (Tue,) studied this question.