This review analyses the physiological and productive consequences of heat stress in tropical livestock and evaluates the mitigation strategies. Heat stress is a significant constraint in tropical production systems, where high temperatures, humidity, solar radiation, and variable wind conditions impose thermal loads that exceed animals’ capacity for heat dissipation. With global warming and more frequent heatwaves, high-yielding breeds selected for rapid growth and productivity are becoming increasingly vulnerable, resulting in significant impacts on welfare, health, and economics. Heat stress disrupts metabolic homeostasis, feed consumption, growth and reproductive efficiency. It also compromises product quality and behaviour. In dairy systems, one of the most sensitive indicators is milk yield reduction, with high-producing cows commonly experiencing losses of 10–30% under sustained thermal stress. Physiologically, heat stress induces endocrine imbalances and oxidative stress. These changes impair immune competence and productivity. These effects scale from individuals to herds, influencing food security and the sustainability of tropical livestock systems. Environmental strategies, including shading, ventilation, and evaporative cooling, reduce heat load and improve thermal comfort. Nutritional interventions aimed at enhancing antioxidant status and metabolic resilience, along with genetic selection for thermotolerance, offer additional benefits. Precision livestock farming technologies further support adaptive management through real-time monitoring and data collection, enabling informed decision-making. However, the effectiveness of these strategies depends on species-specific physiology, production intensity, and socio-economic feasibility. To address this, an integrated framework is required to guide future research and the design of cost-effective adaptation strategies in tropical livestock systems.

Poultry production faces significant challenges, including high feed prices, diseases, and thermal stress, which impact broiler welfare and productivity. Despite advances in cooling technologies and ventilation, preslaughter operations still lead to considerable losses. This review highlights the need for the improved management of thermal environments and animal logistics. Preslaughter operations typically involve fasting broilers for 8–12 h to reduce gastrointestinal contents and contamination. Following fasting, broilers are caught, crated, and transported. Stress levels vary based on distance and conditions, with manual catching often causing stress and injuries. Catching should occur during cooler periods to minimise these issues, and transport conditions must be carefully managed. Lairage, the waiting period after transport, should be kept short (1–2 h) in climate-controlled environments to avoid stress and deterioration. Proper handling and efficient unloading are essential to prevent injuries and reduce economic losses. Stunning methods, such as electronarcosis and a controlled atmosphere, aim to minimise suffering before slaughter, though practices vary culturally and religiously. Logistics and real-time monitoring technology are crucial for enhancing animal welfare during transportation. Effective planning and the optimisation of transport processes is vital for reducing stress and losses, especially with regard to rising global temperatures and production demands.

The objective was to characterize the nutrient and mineral composition of M. maximus cv Aruana grazed by lambs in a silvopastoral system or full sun with added nitrogen. The treatments are: (1) Aruana grazed in full sun with nitrogen fertilization, (2) Aruana grazed in full sun without nitrogen fertilization, (3) Aruana grazed in a silvopastoral system with nitrogen fertilization and (4) Aruana grazed in a silvopastoral system without nitrogen fertilization. The nutrient dynamics, urinary excretion of N and the amount returned of the nutrient were determined from four sheep in a Latin square experimental design; the analysis of the mineral composition of the leaves and stalks of the grass was carried out by collecting samples from the plots used, totaling six in each treatment evaluated. The silvopastoral system provided high levels of P and K in forage plants. Urinary N excretion and urine mineral contents were influenced by the systems evaluated and the use of N fertilizer. N did not show differences for leaves and canes.

We aimed to identify whether the physical characteristics of the eggs such as yolk and eggshell color influence the purchase decision through a consumer survey compound by 1567 individuals’ information answered from different regions, genders, income, and education levels in Brazil. The opinion of the participants was evaluated through the free word associations, related to the preferences for the physical characteristics of the eggs. Afterward, the individuals were asked to answer questions related to their preferences regarding visual characteristics, especially the yolk and eggshell color. A significant portion of participants claims to have consumer preferences based on the eggshell color, not just the price, even when we isolate the gender. Even though eggs are one of the most consumed foods of animal origin in the world, there is still a lack of knowledge on the part of consumers about the factors that influence the characteristics of eggs, demonstrating that wrong information can affect preferences and consumption habits.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da adubação nitrogenada em M. maximus cv. Aruana cultivado em sistema silvipastoril e pleno sol sobre as características morfogênicas, estruturais, produtivas e composição química. Sistemas silvipastoris promovem eficiência produtiva e sustentabilidade na produção animal, melhorando a forragem e o conforto térmico. A adubação nitrogenada afeta o crescimento de forrageiras tropicais. O estudo avaliou o sistema utilizado (silvipastoril e pleno sol), adubação (com e sem) e períodos (21, 42, 63 e 84 dias) em características produtivas e morfogênicas da forrageira. O sistema silvipastoril elevou a altura do dossel, enquanto o pleno sol favoreceu a matéria seca e ganho de peso animal. A adubação beneficiou a densidade de perfilhos basais e morfogênese. O teor de proteína bruta foi maior no pleno sol. Pleno sol teve vantagens na forragem e composição, enquanto o silvipastoril destacou-se na altura do dossel. A adubação melhorou várias características, incentivando renovação tecidual. O estudo destaca a importância do manejo adequado em sistemas silvipastoris para otimizar produção e qualidade forrageira.

Stingless bees have a fundamental important role in the economies and traditions of South America indigenous cultures. Are mainly responsible for the pollination of several plant species. This way, the aim was to identify if Brazilian consumers know stingless bee honey and its sensorial characteristics, what is the consumption of this, as well as to generate information to assist in the development of the productive chain of the specie. A closed structured questionnaire with 20 questions was used and the participants were invited via social media. Data were collected in November 2020. The statistical analyses were performed related to the description, characterization of the participants and frequencies. In addition to these,, multivariate analyzes, for word association and questionnaire responses were performed. It is clear that most participants have some confusion between the sensory and physical characteristics of honey from native stingless bees and Apis mellifera. This lack of knowledge of the product can cause problems both in the handling of honey for sale and for consumption. Another interference would be linked to the taste, when we highlight the acidity and less sweetness of this pot-honey, and the consumer can often deduce that the product is damaged or not from a good origin. There is little consumer awareness of the benefits and qualities of stingless honey. Many consumers are still unaware of the differences between breeding sites and characteristics of native stingless bees. Still, a large part of these associates the quality of this honey with the honey of Apis Mellifera.