Tackle climate-linked miscarriages in livestock

The same heat stress is blamed for reduced overall fertility rates among livestock. According to the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), heat stress can lead to a 10-20 per cent reduction in conception rates in cattle. Even when the cows conceive, carrying the pregnancy to term is usually a gamble.

Since pregnant creatures’ immunity is often compromised, such challenges as water or pasture scarcity can cause miscarriage. In Kenya, floods result in widespread loss of livestock, and diseases that may lead to more fatalities in animals. With poor immunity, pregnant livestock risk losing their unborn to Rift Valley Fever, a disease that is usually worsened by unusual heavy rainfall and flooding, according to World Health Organisation.

Once a pregnancy is terminated, the expected milk production and associated income is snatched. It means missing out on meat production opportunities. Meat and dairy products shortages are possible links to malnutrition and food scarcity in some regions. A 2020 report by ILRI says heat stress can reduce milk production and fertility rates in cattle by up to 50 per cent because of associated miscarriage cases. Heat stress can also cause increased aggression or poor feeding in livestock.

Giving livestock cold showers is a practical, humane and forward-thinking approach to dealing with effects of heat stress in livestock. The cooling effect helps to stabilise their internal physiological processes. But not everyone can afford it. Playing soothing music for dairy cows, Kenyan Joseph Mureithi of Waruhiu Agricultural Development Centre in Kiambu says, helps to relax the hormones of the animals for better milk productivity.

It is undeniable that climate change affects livestock’s reproductive health and increases incidences of miscarriages through heat stress. In extreme cases, especially for poultry, heat stress causes heat stroke, illnesses and mortality. These can result in huge financial and other losses. Tackling the problem not only requires sustainable climate action, but specific adaptive strategies to tackle the impacts of crisis.