Study maps livestock heat stress risk across Thessaly

A new paper in Veterinary Sciences maps livestock heat stress across Thessaly, Greece, using ERA5-Land reanalysis data and the temperature–humidity index, or THI, for the warm seasons from 2020 through 2025. The study, published April 29, 2026, found that heat stress is becoming a meaningful environmental constraint on animal production and welfare in one of Greece’s most important livestock regions, and it uses geospatial analysis to show where and when risk is highest rather than relying on farm-level physiological measurements alone. Thessaly is already recognized as one of Greece’s inland heat-stress hotspots, which gives the findings broader climate relevance beyond a single production system. (mdpi.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the paper adds a practical surveillance lens to heat stress management. Even though the analysis is based on modeled outdoor conditions rather than direct animal responses, it supports earlier risk identification, seasonal planning, and more targeted conversations with producers about ventilation, shade, water access, stocking density, transport timing, and species- or farm-specific mitigation. It also lands as Greece’s livestock sector is investing in more geospatial and digital veterinary tools in Thessaly, suggesting that climate risk monitoring could increasingly sit alongside disease surveillance and regional response planning. (mdpi.com)

What to watch: The next step will be whether these regional heat-risk maps are translated into farm-level warning systems, validation with on-animal or production data, and routine use by veterinary and agricultural authorities. (mdpi.com)