Impact of Climate Change on Animal Health and Mitigation Strategies: A Review

Abstract

Climate change, a global phenomenon of present time, has emerged as the greatest challenge of the world in the twenty-first century. The impact of climate change is multifaceted and affects various aspects of the ecosystems as human, animals and environment. Climate change is one among the major threat for the sustainability of livestock systems. The direct effects of climate change on animal health are mainly due to changes in environmental conditions such as air temperature, relative humility, precipitation, drought, and flood and reflect mainly in the form of heat stress and reproductive problems. Indirect effects lead to infectious, vector borne and parasitic diseases occurrence. The mitigation strategies should focus upon climate resilient breeding and shelter management practices along with sustainable disease surveillance, conservation of natural habitats and society awareness and education.