Effects of artificial shade on the performance and water intake of feedlot beef cattle in tropical environments

Heat stress is one of the main challenges for animal production systems in tropical regions. One of the ways to mitigate the negative effects of thermal stress is to provide artificial shading structures. This work experimentally evaluates the effects of artificial shading on the productivity and water consumption of finishing beef cattle. The experiments were conducted in two locations: the Amazon Forest region (Mato Grosso State, Brazil) and the Atlantic Forest region (São Paulo State, Brazil). In both experiments, the animals were equally divided into groups with and without access to shade, totaling 997 animals. Beef cattle without access to shade drank 16.2% more water. Accumulated weight gain and finishing fat were higher in animals with access to shade (90.77 vs. 85.99 kg in the first experiment, p < 0.05; 88.85 vs. 84.75 kg in the second experiment, p < 0.05). Carcass yield was similar for both groups. In conclusion, artificial shading for feedlot beef cattle led to a reduction in water consumption (consistent with improved thermal comfort) and an increase in animal performance (greater cumulative weight gain), improving overall animal welfare within tropical feedlot systems.