The document discusses the impacts of climate change on animal health and production, highlighting how various species and breeds are differently affected by rising temperatures, leading to issues such as immunosuppression, reduced growth and reproduction, and increased stress. Specific examples include heat-sensitive livestock, such as dairy cows, and challenges faced by semi-domesticated reindeer, which are adapting to changing ecosystems and food availability. The document emphasizes the importance of adaptation measures and understanding the complex interactions between climate, animal health, and disease epidemiology to sustain animal production.

1. Climate change –
influence on animal health and production
Ann Albihn, Professor
National Veterinary Institute (SVA) and
Deptm. Biomed Sci. and Veterinary Public Health, SLU
SLU SIANI 16 03 11 Livestock resources for food security in the light of climate change Ann Albihn

2. Different problems are
seen for different:
• Species and breeds
• Regions
• Husbandry regimes
Climate change
affect animals

3. • Immunosuppression
• Production↓ growth, milk, egg,..
• Reproduction↓ sperm quality, embryo survival, heat symptoms
Heat sensitive animals e.g.
• Aquatic animals mostly has a narrow temperature window
• Swine and poultry can not sweat
• Full-fatted and winter coated outdoor cattle in the autumn
• High yielding animals
Heat stress cause health effects

4. The high yielding dairy cow -
an example of a heat sensitive animal
• Already high metabolism
• Effects are seen on
– body temperature
– reproduction
– milk production
– animal welfare
• Milk production is generally
“well recorded”

5. Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) and expected
reduction of milk yield for dairy cows in two
different regions in Sweden for year 2025
Heat
wave
scenario
Temperature
ºC
Relative
Humidity
% THI2
Duration
no. of days
Reduction of
milk yield 3
Middle
Extreme
26
30
26
30
33
85
80
85
80
77
77
83
77
83
87
10
3
15
6
3
Small
Medium
2 THI = (1,8 Temp + 32) – ([0,55 – 0,0055 humidity [1,8 Temp – 26],
3 Reduction of milk yield on a yearly basis was expeted as
small (<0,5 %), medium (0,5-2,0 %), large (> 2,0 %)
Eckersten, Djurle, Albihn, et al. 2015, SLU Report

6. Adaptation to increasing temperature
– to reduce the negative effects
•Possibilities to change behavior
•Grassing nighttime instead of daytime
•Supplementary cooling, ventilation
•Bedding material
•Bathing
•Adjustment of feed/feeding routines
•Adjustment of stables, transportation,..

7. Photo Anna-Marja Kaddik, SSR
Cold spots are getting hot.
Semi-domesticated reindeer are facing
a new situation concerning climate
change and ecosystem changes

8. Reindeer herding
Free-grazing, wide areas, adapted to harsh ecosystems
Highly specialized animals, sensitive to environmental perturbations
The present grazing area depend on season and weather.
By tradition high flexibility, today reduced access to alternative areas
Migration or transport
Influencing northern ecosystems - feeding and migration patterns
Important for indigenous people as Sami and Nenets
From nomadism to modern pastoralism
Photo Anna-Marja Kaddik, SSR

9. CC ads on another stressor on a
heavily burdened animal production…..
Repeated thawing/freezing events causes icing on the ground
Teethes may be seriously damaged while RD try to reach their forage
Has to be fenced for supplementary feeding
This also causes increased morbidity and mortality due to;
crowding and increases general stress load
changed diet (e.g. tree-hanging lichen to hay and pellets)
opportunistic infections (no harm to the host during optimal conditions)
Photos Ulrika Rockström, Gård och Djurhälsan

10. Secondary effects of ecosystem
changes
• The thawing tundra may
cause outbreaks of anthrax
(Bacillus anthracis) in Russia
• Possible air-exposition of
buried carcasses from earlier
large epizootics of “Sibirski”
• 13000 burial grounds, more
than half in permafrost
(Revich & Podolnaya, 2011; Glob Health Action)
Photo Ulrika Rockström,
Gård och Djurhälsan

11. • Shortage of water may cause wildlife density to increase in
the neighborhood of water sources
• The spread of infectious diseases may be enhanced, both
within and between species
• Animal production e.g. milk, needs much water
• Contamination of water sources due to increased events of
surface run-off and flooding
CC affects both water availability and quality

12. • Increased risk: Heavy rain, delayed
harvest, low dry matter content at harvest
• Fungus (Fusarium spp produce
Deoxynivalenol, Vomitoxin and Zearalenon)
in straw and seed
• Pigs are sensitive and may show
decreased growth rate and fertility
CC may cause increased problems
with mycotoxins in feed

13. Insects
Annoyance – rest and feed less
Blood suckling - anaemia, toxins, death
As vectors - transmitt diseases

14. Insect larva may eat on live animals
(blowfly strike, cutaneous myiasis)
Risk dependent on:
Temperature
Humidity
Length on season
Density of insect populations
Breed, age, flock size
Worm burden - faecal soiling
Adaptation by:
Deworming
Insecticide use
Fly traps
(Mulesing!!)
Earlier sheering of
ewes in the spring

15. Arthropod vectors transmit diseases -
between individuals and species

16. Climate sensitive infections (CSI)
Here defined as: Dependent on the
natural environment for their spread
or persistence, e.g. transmitted to a
new host or species by arthropod
vectors, water or soil, or they use
wildlife as a reservoir.
CC may impact the epidemiology,
geographical distribution,
seasonality, prevalence, … of CSI
BUT - many other anthropogenic
environmental factors may also
influence CSIOIE, 2008
(World Organisation of Animal Healt)

17. •
Photo C. Fugelsang
Globalisation -
the most
important way for
spread of
diseases

18. Vectorborne diseases (VBD)
Dependent on the abundance and density of
arthropod vectors and other animals
used to feed on, as intermediate hosts or
as reservoir animals
CC may cause e.g. increased winter
survival and more suitable habitats for
vectors and other animals
A competent arthropod vector can carry,
reproduce and transmit the pathogen,
this is dependent on the ambient
temperature and many other
environmental factors
VBD mostly zoonotic infections
humans - animals

19. Borreliosis/Lyme diseases
• Tick has changed its distribution to
higher latitudes (Lindgren et al.,
2000)
• Influence of temp., humidity,
vegetation
• Rodents are reservoir species
• Deer, humans and others
are mostly ”dead end host”

20. A surprisingly quick spread of a VBD
Schmallenberg virus (ortobunya)
affect ruminants
Infection during first half of gestation
causes dead or malformed
offspring
In the end of 2011 in central Europe
Swedish survey 2012 of farm based
milk containers (Chenais et al. 2013)
May -1/ 723 farms pos.
Nov – 521/ 723 (72%) pos.
Virus detected also in
midges (Culicoides spp.)
aborted lambs and calves,
In wildlife as roedeer and moose

21. Bluetongue - an epizootic among ruminants
• From Africa, 2006 to several EC countries, 2008 to Swe
•Infected midgets (Cullicoides) windspread from Denmark
•Hot summer and dense populations
of midgets caused spread in Swe
• Costly disease control, vaccination

22. Identification of ”epidemiological hotspots” -
to predict VBD outbreaks
Decrease the cost for vector
surveillance
Increase the success of handling of an
outbreak
A process-based model includes
temp, precipitation, vector
abundance, biology/distribution,
traits of pathogen
Prediction models – aim to model the
potential transmission
intensity of a pathogen
Good models need good
data, but a model will
never be perfect
Map source:
www.nordrisk.dk
Prediction model for
2038 - no. of days with
potential spread of
Bluetongue
by infectious
midges vectors
(Culicoides)
Observed Bluetongue
infection in cattle and
sheep in 2008

23. Healthy animals produce more
Growth rate
Egg, milk, …
Live longer
Reproduce better
Central for a sustainable intensification of animal
production
Animal welfare aspects

24. • Environmental and ecosystem changes
affects animals in many ways as heat-
stress, infectious diseases and
availability of feed and water
• CC starts complex and dynamic
interaction between ecosystems, vectors,
pathogens, animals and humans
• For vector-borne diseases, changes are
ongoing in geographical distribution,
seasonality, prevalence,…
• Wildlife may be seriously affected
themselves but also act as a disease
regulators for domestic animals and
humans
• Lessons learned from other regions - but
adaptation needed to local conditions
• Healthy animals produce more
Conclusions

25. Climate change adaptation –
to avoid that surprises turn into crises
As more we know as better we can adapt