Cogent Food & Agriculture

Advances in Animal Stress: From Assessment to Management in Animal Production

In modern animal production systems, stress is a critical factor that affects not only the health and welfare of livestock but also the efficiency and sustainability of farming operations. Stressors (ranging from environmental conditions and handling practices to health challenges and social dynamics) can significantly impact animal behavior, productivity, immune function, and overall well-being. As consumer awareness and regulatory standards evolve, the need for accurate stress assessment and effective management strategies has become a central concern in both scientific research and industry practice.

Stress in production animals is more than a welfare issue as it has tangible economic consequences. Besides, chronic stress can lead to reduced growth rates, lower reproductive performance, increased disease susceptibility, and diminished product quality. Moreover, public demand for higher animal welfare standards and ethical treatment continues to rise, influencing policy, certification schemes, and market access. Addressing stress effectively supports not only better animal outcomes but also enhances farm profitability and aligns with global goals for sustainable food systems.

This Article Collection invited submissions that tackle the latest advancements in understanding, measuring, and mitigating stress in farm animals. It brings together interdisciplinary perspectives (from physiology to precision livestock farming and behavioral science) to provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge and emerging innovations in this vital area. Potential subtopics for this Collection include, but are not limited to:

• Physiological and Behavioral Indicators of Stress.
• Precision Livestock Farming Tools for Stress Detection
• Environmental and Management-Induced Stressors.
• Impact of Stress on Animal Performance and Product Quality
• Nutritional Strategies to Mitigate Stress.
• Welfare-Oriented Handling and Human-Animal Interactions.
• Species-specific Stress Responses
• Future Directions in Stress Research.

Keywords: Animal welfare, Stress assessment, Livestock productivity, Stress management, Farming sustainability

Guest Advisors: 

Prof. Ester Bartolomé Medina Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering (ETSIA) at the University of Seville. She holds a PhD from the University of Seville and a Master's Degree in Conservation Biology (Universidad Pablo de Olavide in Seville). Her lines of research are genetic improvement, behavior, stress assessment, and welfare of equines mainly but also in other species, with a special focus on the Spanish Sport Horse. Here is the link to her ORCID page: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0594-6076

Prof. María José Sánchez Guerrero Ph.D. is an assistant professor at the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering (ETSIA) at the University of Seville. She holds a Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Córdoba (UCO), where she also completed a Master's in Medicine, Animal Health, and Improvement. Her research career has been focused on the equine sector, with a particular interest in the Pura Raza Española (PRE) breed and genetic improvement. Here is the link to her ORCID page: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0594-6076

Disclosure statement: Both Guest Advisors declare no conflict of interest.

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo desk assessment and peer-review as part of our standard editorial process; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Please review the journal scope  and author submission instructions  prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is September 30th, 2026.

Please contact Ruby Ru at [email protected]  with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

To submit your papers to this Article Collection, please:

1. Check "yes" for the question, "Are you submitting your paper for a specific special issue or article collection?"
2. Select the relevant Article Collection from the drop-down menu under the question, "Special Issue or Article Collection Name."