Climate Change on Fertility and Reproductive Processes of Female Livestock

Abstract

The effects of climate change continues to be a growing modern-day challenge. Climate change-induced heat stress disrupts reproductive and fertility systems in livestock. In males, it modifies the physiology of the spermatogenic cycle resulting to poor quality semen and high prevalence of secondary sperm defects. In female livestock, heat stress decreases the production of gonadotrophins, results to hormonal imbalance, decreases the quality of oocytes, and lengthens the oestrous period leading to infertility. These effects can be reversed through genetic modifications, nutritive supplementation, physical cooling mechanisms, and hormonal therapies. The successful implementation of the ameliorative strategies is pegged on improved research and their combined administration. Ultimately, climate change mitigation and adaptation are indispensable to overcome fertility problems in livestock among other environmental effects of the climate variations.