'In the sun they'd cook': farm animals at risk as US south-west heats
Written by Chris Malloy in Phoenix
As temperatures rise, farmers are being forced to adapt, experimenting with new breeds and cooling methods
- Climate Countdown: The US is set to exit the Paris climate agreement on 4 November. Read more about what’s at stake
South-west of Phoenix, Arizona, in the hottest desert in North America, Beth and Tim Wilson use sprinklers to cool their 300 pigs. Nearby, the Adams Natural Meats bison ranch employs shaders and misters. North of the city, chicken farmer Dave Jordan says he cannot put his 10,000 birds out to pasture.
“If they were out in the sun, they would just get cooked.”
Related: Alleged animal abuse in US dairy sector under investigation
Related: 'You got it': how bird flu turned one US farmer's life upside down
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