DOI: https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/25.4.4335
Review article
Climate change impacts on sheep and goat production and reproduction
2024, 25 (4) p. 910-918
Anass BEN MOULA, Amr KCHIKICH, Mouad CHENTOUF, Ahlem HAMDACHE, Khalid BOURAADA, Mariam ESSAFI, Mohammed EZZIYYANI
Abstract
In regions facing extreme heat, livestock encounter formidable challenges in dissipating environmental heat, leading to recurrent and severe heat stress episodes throughout the year. This review delves into the physiological impacts of climate change on sheep and goat production, with a focus on economic viability, milk and meat yields, reproductive performance, and thermoregulation. In arid and semi-arid regions, sheep and goats are particularly vulnerable to elevated temperatures, experiencing reductions in body weight, average daily gain, growth rates, and reproductive impairments. Besides, the combination of heat and humidity further undermines animals' immune systems, rendering them more susceptible to diseases and stress. However, goats demonstrate resilience and adaptive advantages over sheep in mitigating heat stress effects, rooted in their unique physiological, morphological, and behavioral adaptations. Leveraging these adaptive traits offers opportunities for sustainable livestock farming within intensifying climatic challenges, emphasizing the necessity of proactive management strategies to safeguard livestock welfare and promote economic viability.
Keywords
climate change, small ruminants’ production, reproduction, heat stress, sheep, goats
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