The number of studies addressing climate change and animal production grew at an average annual rate of 9.5 percent over the period analyzed. More than one-third of the publications, 35.71 percent, resulted from collaboration between researchers, institutions, or countries, reflecting the increasingly international and interdisciplinary nature of the subject. The research landscape has also changed substantially since the early decades of climate-related livestock studies. Earlier work often concentrated on clearly defined physiological problems, such as heat stress, which occurs when an animal’s heat production exceeds its ability to lose heat to the surrounding environment. Contemporary research is more likely to investigate adaptation, resilience, sustainability, animal welfare, food security, and One Health. Scientists are also using computational modeling, large databases, remote sensing, and machine-learning methods to project how herds may respond to future conditions. Yet the authors caution that more advanced methods do not automatically produce better outcomes if the knowledge remains inaccessible to producers or disconnected from regional realities.

“After 2015, the discussion became more focused on resilience, sustainability, animal welfare, and One Health,” says Iran José Oliveira da Silva, a professor in ESALQ-USP’s Department of Biosystems Engineering and one of the study’s coordinators. He links this shift partly to the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, which encouraged researchers to treat livestock production as part of a wider environmental and social system. In this view, climate change is not merely a question of whether animals can survive higher temperatures. It also involves whether farms can maintain productivity, protect animal health, reduce emissions, preserve water resources, and remain economically viable. “It isn’t enough to simply develop technology,” Silva explains. “We have to transform it into evidence-based practices and implementation.” That transformation requires policies, extension services, infrastructure, financing, and access to innovations for small-scale producers, who often face the greatest climate risks while having the fewest resources to respond.

The study’s first author, animal scientist Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira, says the literature review indicates that the discipline remains in an early stage, with substantial room for new questions, methods, and research agendas. One of the clearest developments is the movement from isolated measurements of climate stress toward integrated assessments of animal resilience. Resilience refers to the ability of an animal or production system to withstand disturbance, recover from it, and continue functioning under altered conditions. During his doctoral research, Silveira developed a methodology to project how herds from different livestock species could respond physiologically to climate-change impacts between 2050 and 2100. Such projections can incorporate variables including air temperature, humidity, solar radiation, wind speed, animal physiology, housing, genetics, nutrition, and management. By connecting these factors, researchers can estimate changes in heat load, feed intake, reproduction, growth, disease risk, and mortality under different climate scenarios. The challenge is ensuring that these models accurately represent the conditions experienced by farmers in particular regions.

The analysis found that some areas of research are already well established. Greenhouse-gas emissions, environmental impacts, and the relationship between livestock and climate change have generated a substantial body of evidence. Livestock production contributes to global warming through methane released during ruminant digestion, nitrous oxide associated with manure and fertilized soils, and carbon dioxide linked to land-use change, energy consumption, and supply chains. At the same time, animal agriculture is affected by warming through reduced pasture quality, water shortages, altered disease patterns, and declining reproductive performance during heat waves. Other themes, however, remain less connected to applied research and public policy. These include climate-smart agriculture, One Health, and integrated sustainability frameworks. Climate-smart agriculture seeks to increase productivity and resilience while reducing or avoiding greenhouse-gas emissions, using strategies that can encompass livestock, crops, forests, fisheries, and entire landscapes. The researchers argue that such approaches need to move beyond conceptual discussion and be tested through locally grounded programs.

One Health provides another framework for linking livestock production to broader environmental and public-health concerns. The concept recognizes that human health, animal health, and ecosystem health are interdependent. Climate change can intensify those connections by expanding the geographic range of disease vectors, changing the distribution of pathogens, increasing the risk of zoonotic spillover, and influencing the use of antibiotics in stressed or disease-prone herds. Warmer conditions may also alter the persistence of microorganisms in water and soil. At the same time, pressure to maintain production under difficult conditions can encourage management decisions with unintended consequences for welfare or antimicrobial resistance. A One Health approach therefore requires collaboration among veterinarians, animal scientists, ecologists, epidemiologists, public-health specialists, climate researchers, economists, and farmers. According to the Brazilian researchers, the growing appearance of these concepts in the scientific literature is promising, but their practical integration remains limited. The next stage of research must connect environmental indicators with animal outcomes, farm economics, social conditions, and public policy.

The stakes extend far beyond individual farms. The global agri-food system is responsible for approximately one-third of human-caused greenhouse-gas emissions, while livestock production is a major source of methane. Agriculture also consumes large quantities of freshwater, particularly through irrigation, and expanding demand for food can intensify pressure on forests, grasslands, and other ecosystems. The United Nations projects that the world population could approach 10 billion by 2050, increasing demand for food even as climate change threatens the reliability of production. Land conversion for pasture or cropland can release stored carbon and reduce biodiversity, creating a feedback loop in which food production contributes to the environmental changes that make production more difficult. Livestock systems differ enormously, however. A smallholder farm in sub-Saharan Africa, a pasture-based operation in Brazil, and an intensive poultry facility in Europe face different climates, markets, diseases, technologies, and regulatory environments. A single global solution is therefore unlikely to work equally well everywhere.

That is why the authors emphasize regionalized and inclusive research. Global datasets can identify broad patterns, but they may conceal crucial differences in local soils, breeds, feed resources, housing designs, water availability, labor, income, and cultural practices. Applying a climate model developed for one region to another without suitable calibration can produce misleading predictions. “Using global databases and applying them to a specific region may not reflect the reality of that country or area,” Silva says. “When we work with regionalized information, we begin to be more precise.” The researchers recommend working directly with smallholder farmers and other producers to identify feasible interventions, measure their performance, and adapt them to local conditions. Solutions might include heat-tolerant genetics, improved shade and ventilation, revised feeding schedules, water-saving systems, disease surveillance, pasture diversification, precision livestock technologies, and changes in stocking density. Their effectiveness will depend not only on biology, but also on affordability, training, infrastructure, and access to markets.

The uneven adoption of climate-related innovations is especially visible in vulnerable countries. Although the scientific literature increasingly proposes technological, genetic, and management-based responses, structural, economic, and institutional barriers prevent many producers from adopting them. Farmers may lack credit to improve animal housing, reliable electricity for cooling systems, veterinary services, digital connectivity, or insurance against climate losses. Technologies developed for high-income settings may be too expensive or too complex for small farms, while breeding programs may overlook locally adapted animals that already possess valuable resistance to heat, drought, or disease. The researchers also identify geographic disparities in scientific output, with countries in the Global South—particularly in Africa—underrepresented in the literature. This imbalance can make global assessments less representative and limit the development of solutions based on local knowledge. Inclusive research, they argue, should not treat producers merely as end users. Farmers should help define research questions, evaluate technologies, and shape policies intended to support climate adaptation.

The Brazilian team is now extending this agenda through research on the projected effects of climate change on poultry and swine production in different regions of Brazil, including the Midwest and Northeast, through the year 2100. Unlike ruminants, poultry and pigs do not produce methane through enteric fermentation, but they are highly sensitive to heat stress because their physiology limits their ability to dissipate body heat. Elevated temperatures can reduce feed intake, slow growth, impair fertility, weaken immune responses, and increase mortality. In intensive systems, heat can also raise energy consumption for ventilation and cooling, potentially increasing production costs and emissions. By combining regional climate projections with animal physiology, genetics, housing, nutrition, and management data, the researchers hope to identify strategies suited to different future scenarios. Their broader message is that the future of livestock science will be measured not only by the number of papers published or the sophistication of the models used, but by whether evidence reaches farms, informs policy, protects animal welfare, and helps communities produce food without exceeding ecological limits.

Subject of Research: Livestock production, climate change, sustainability, animal welfare, climate adaptation, resilience, One Health, and climate-smart agriculture.

Article Title: Animal production under climate change: a global scientometric analysis of research structure, thematic evolution, and knowledge gaps

News Publication Date: 28-May-2026

Web References: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-026-05071-0

References: Tropical Animal Health and Production; São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP); University of São Paulo Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ-USP)

Image Credits: Léo Ramos Chaves/Pesquisa FAPESP

Keywords: Livestock; climate change; animal production; climate-smart agriculture; One Health; sustainability; resilience; animal welfare; greenhouse-gas emissions; scientific communication

The recent special issue published by the Journal of Dairy Science serves as a pivotal resource to bridge the gap between academic research and practical application. This special issue, titled "Feed Additives for Methane Mitigation," synthesizes the findings of a flagship project led by the Feed and Nutrition Network of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases’ Livestock Research Group. The collaboration involves 60 eminent scientists from 46 institutions across 23 countries, illustrating a robust global commitment to tackling methane emissions in the livestock sector.

David Yáñez-Ruiz, a key contributor to this project from the Spanish Research Council, emphasizes the importance of this collaborative network. He underlines that it is vital to harness the collective expertise of leading researchers to address methane emissions, which is essential for the broader effort against climate change. This special issue encapsulates a multi-faceted approach to developing and implementing feed additives, providing various technical guidelines designed to assist researchers, dairy professionals, product developers, and dairy producers.

The special issue begins by outlining a systematic process for identifying effective bioactive compounds that can inhibit methane production. The initial guidelines present two different pathways for selecting these critical compounds. Researchers can pursue either an empirical approach, which involves screening identified compounds from existing databases, or a mechanistic one aiming to discover novel compounds informed by an understanding of animal biology. Such a thorough approach to selection underlines the need for a scientific basis that ensures the efficacy of feed additives in reducing methane emissions.

Subsequent steps involve rigorous laboratory testing to assess the impact of these selected compounds. This stage requires careful consideration of various factors, including appropriate dosages, formulations, and the interaction of additives with the complex diets of ruminants and their unique digestive processes. This testing phase is crucial as it provides foundational data to inform subsequent field trials.

Once laboratory efficacy is established, the next step necessitates the trialing of these feed additives in real-world scenarios where animals are consuming the new supplements. The rigorous standards outlined in the special issue are designed to guide researchers in designing and conducting these studies while using advanced techniques to measure enteric methane emissions accurately. Proper data analysis during this phase is vital to understand both the efficacy and safety of these feed additives for livestock and the nutritional quality of resulting dairy products.

In light of diverse farming conditions and regional specifics, future modeling of methane emissions associated with the use of feed additives will become increasingly essential. Establishing models to predict the outcomes of various additives in different environments at multiple scales allows researchers to gauge the broader impact of these feeds. The special issue includes detailed recommendations regarding the modeling approaches necessary for quantifying methane emissions and understanding the synergies and possible trade-offs that emerge from implementing these additives across varied agricultural contexts.

Addressing the biochemical and microbiological changes brought about by the introduction of these feed additives into the diets of ruminants is another complex challenge highlighted in the special issue. Researchers must pinpoint which microbes are specifically influenced by the additives. This knowledge will enable a deeper understanding of the mode of action of each compound and how they function at the cellular and molecular levels. Identifying these mechanisms is crucial for developing tailored recommendations for diverse livestock production systems.

Yet, the path from research to commercial application requires that these feed additives undergo regulatory approval. The special issue provides insights into the varying legal frameworks across various countries, including the European Union, the United States, Australia, Canada, and others. Navigating these regulations necessitates not only proving the safety of additives for animals and consumers but also demonstrating their efficacy in terms of methane reduction.

Once feed additives have been authorized for use, quantifying their emissions impacts on a global scale poses a significant inquiry for researchers and policymakers alike. The final article of the special issue offers a structured framework for measuring methane
reduction potentials. It highlights the importance of assessing how the formulation and delivery methods of additives can affect overall efficacy and interaction with the broader livestock production system.

This special issue, with its detailed exploration of the technical guidelines for the development of feed additives, serves as a roadmap for future research and application in the dairy sector. It aims to empower stakeholders across the board—from scientists and researchers to farmers and consumers—to adopt practices that can reduce the environmental footprint of dairy production significantly.

The editor-in-chief of the Journal of Dairy Science, Paul Kononoff, succinctly summarizes the vital importance of this special issue by underscoring the interconnected nature of the global dairy and livestock sectors. He asserts that the successful application of these guidelines could help ensure that the industry continues to provide essential nutrition while making strides toward a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future.

With climate change continuing to pose significant challenges, the movement toward better dairy practices through innovative feed additives represents a crucial step forward. The insights gathered from this special issue will not only influence current practices in dairy farming but will also inspire future innovations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural systems worldwide. As interest in sustainable farming practices grows, it is clear that the potential of feed additives to mitigate methane emissions will play a critical role in shaping the future of dairy production.

In conclusion, this collection of research highlights the importance of collaborative efforts and the use of scientific advancements to tackle pressing global challenges. As the dairy industry gears up for transformative changes, the recommendations and practical strategies detailed within this special issue pave the way for a more sustainable and productive future in livestock farming.

Subject of Research: Animals
Article Title: Special Issue: Feed Additives for Methane Mitigation
News Publication Date: March 7, 2025
Web References: Journal of Dairy Science
References: Not applicable
Image Credits: Not applicable
Keywords: Dairy, methane reduction, feed additives, greenhouse gas mitigation, livestock research.