The summer of 2025 is leaving a dramatic mark on the Spanish countryside. Forest fires, increasingly frequent and intense, have become a direct threat not only to the environment but also to livestock farming, a strategic sector for rural economy and the country’s food security.

The combination of prolonged droughts, record temperatures, and strong wind episodes is creating the perfect scenario for fire to devastate thousands of hectares of pastures, grasslands, forests, and agricultural-livestock operations.

Faced with this critical situation, rehydration and sanitary management of livestock have become essential tools to mitigate the effects of heat waves and the loss of forage resources.

In this blog, we will discuss the problem of fires in Spain during the summer of 2025, the direct and indirect impact they have on livestock farming, and the management strategies that producers must implement to protect their animals. Likewise, we will emphasize the relevance of using rehydrants and electrolyte supplements as a key measure to safeguard the health and productivity of herds.

An Extreme Summer: Forest Fires in Spain in 2025

Climate change is exacerbating extreme weather conditions. In 2025, Spain has recorded several consecutive heat waves, with temperatures exceeding 45°C in southern and interior peninsular areas. These conditions, combined with rainfall scarcity and dry biomass accumulation, have triggered fire risk.

According to preliminary data from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO), more than 200,000 hectares have been affected by fires in the first months of summer, representing one of the worst figures of the last decade.

Mediterranean ecosystems, characterized by their fragility, are particularly vulnerable to these events, and the loss of plant cover has direct effects on resource availability for extensive livestock.

Internationally, the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) has indicated that the Iberian Peninsula is among the most affected areas in Europe in 2025, with large-scale fire episodes in Castilla y León, Extremadura, Andalusia, and Aragon.

The Impact of Fires on Spanish Livestock

Extensive livestock farming in Spain largely depends on natural resources: pastures, forests, and dehesa areas that constitute the food base for species such as cattle, sheep, goats, and Iberian pigs. Fires affect this sector at different levels:

• Loss of pastures and forage: the destruction of meadows and dehesas forces farmers to depend on external feed and forage, increasing production costs.

• Thermal stress in animals: high temperatures, combined with lack of shade and water, severely affect animal welfare, reducing food intake, fertility, and milk or meat production.

• Direct damage to operations: facilities, water troughs, fences, and warehouses can be burned, compromising farm operability.

• Increased diseases: weakening of the immune system due to heat and dehydration makes livestock more vulnerable to infections and metabolic problems.

In communities like Castilla y León, Extremadura, or Andalusia, where extensive livestock farming is a fundamental pillar, fires have generated serious economic and social losses. This is not just an immediate impact, but long-term consequences, as the regeneration of affected ecosystems can take years.

A report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) estimates that economic losses from fires in the agricultural-livestock sector could exceed 600 million euros in 2025, considering livestock replacement, additional feed purchases, and infrastructure reconstruction.

Thermal Stress in Livestock: A Silent Enemy

Thermal stress occurs when animals cannot efficiently dissipate body heat, triggering a series of physiological responses that negatively affect their health and productive performance. Under extreme temperature conditions, ruminants and monogastrics experience:

• Decreased food consumption and, consequently, weight loss or drop in milk production.

• Alterations in water and electrolyte metabolism, with risk of dehydration.

• Increased respiratory rate and excessive panting, resulting in higher energy expenditure.

• Reduced fertility in males and females due to hormonal alteration.

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) studies confirm that thermal stress can reduce milk productivity in cows by up to 25%, while in pigs and poultry it notably increases mortality during heat waves.

The combination of fire, which destroys the environment, and heat waves, which aggravate animal suffering, positions rehydration as a primary necessity measure.

The Importance of Rehydration in Livestock Management

Water is the most critical nutrient for animals. During extreme heat episodes, fluid loss through perspiration and respiration increases considerably. Additionally, heat stress causes imbalances in body electrolytes, affecting vital functions such as muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and acid-base balance.

In this context, rehydrants and electrolyte solutions like the product Bilantul Rehidra become an essential tool. These products provide a balanced combination of mineral salts (sodium, potassium, chlorine, magnesium) and, in some cases, additional energy in the form of glucose to favor intestinal water absorption.

The main benefits of their use in livestock during heat waves include:

• Rapid restoration of water and electrolyte balance.

• Prevention of heat stroke and metabolic disorders.

• Maintenance of food consumption and productivity.

• Reduction of mortality in young and adult animals.

Administration of these supplements can be done through collective water troughs or individually in more weakened animals.

A practical example is observed in dairy cattle operations in Andalusia, where implementing rehydration programs with electrolytes during the heat waves of 2023 and 2024 reduced heat stroke incidence by 15%, improving welfare and production.

Practical Strategies to Protect Livestock During Fires and Heat Waves

In addition to rehydration, farmers must apply a set of management measures that help mitigate the impact of heat and fire:

1. Ensure permanent access to clean, fresh water: water troughs should be checked frequently and, when possible, located in shaded areas.

2. Provide natural or artificial shade: trees, mobile shelters, or light structures help reduce direct solar radiation.

3. Plan grazing: on extremely hot days, it’s recommended to take livestock out during cooler hours (early morning or evening).

4. Secure forage reserves: having stored silos or bales is key to facing pasture loss after a fire.

5. Monitor signs of heat stroke: animals showing intense panting, weakness, dry mucous membranes, or loss of coordination require immediate attention.

6. Design evacuation plans: in high fire-risk areas, it’s essential to have protocols for safely moving livestock.

The Role of Livestock in Fire Prevention

Although fires negatively affect livestock, it also plays a relevant role in their prevention.

Extensive grazing contributes to reducing biomass load in forests and dehesas, acting as a natural forest management tool.

Sheep and goat herds, in particular, help control the growth of shrubs and dry vegetation that would otherwise become fuel for fire.

In recent years, silvopastoral initiatives and collaboration programs between farmers and administrations have emerged to promote this practice, which combines livestock production with environmental conservation. An example is the Living Forests project in Castilla-La Mancha, which has demonstrated that directed grazing can reduce fire spread by up to 30% in risk areas.

However, large-scale fires, like those recorded in 2025, exceed the control capacity of these preventive measures, exposing the need for more integrated forest management policies.

Future Challenges and Necessary Measures

The summer of 2025 is showing that Spain must accelerate the adaptation of its agricultural-livestock sector to climate change. Some priority challenges and actions are:

• Investment in water infrastructure: reservoirs, cisterns, and more efficient water distribution systems.

• Promoting the use of rehydrating supplements as part of routine summer management.

• Genetic improvement of native breeds more resistant to heat.

• Implementation of firebreaks and active vegetation management in high-risk areas.

• Economic support for affected farmers, direct aid to farmers and ranchers for forage, feed, and lost animal replacement.

• Research and technical training in new animal welfare strategies against extreme heat.

In the medium term, Spain will need to strengthen its fire prevention strategy by integrating livestock into forest plans, supporting silvopastoral projects, encouraging ecosystem resilience, and creating natural corridors that reduce plant fuel continuity.

Conclusions

This summer season of 2025 has highlighted the vulnerability of the Spanish livestock sector to forest fires and extreme heat waves. Fires not only devastate ecosystems and forage resources but also multiply the thermal stress animals are subjected to, compromising their health, welfare, and the economic sustainability of operations.

In this scenario, rehydration with electrolyte solutions is confirmed as an essential tool to mitigate dehydration effects and maintain productivity, especially in cattle, sheep, goats, and Iberian pigs. Experience shows that proper management of water, shade, forage, and supplementation can make the difference between survival and the loss of entire herds.

At the same time, extensive livestock must be recognized as a strategic ally in fire prevention, thanks to its role in reducing combustible biomass through grazing. Initiatives like silvopastoralism are an example of how the sector can integrate into sustainable forest management policies.

The lessons from this summer indicate that Spain needs to strengthen investment in water infrastructure, extreme heat management plans, technical training, and economic support for farmers. Climate change adaptation is not an option but an immediate obligation to guarantee the future of the countryside and food security.

Ultimately, the 2025 fires represent a turning point: the livestock sector must advance toward more resilient and sustainable models, where animal welfare and territory management become fundamental pillars against the climate challenges that will mark the coming decades.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the impact of forest fires on extensive livestock farming?

Forest fires can have a devastating impact on extensive livestock farming, as they destroy pastures and areas where animals graze. This can result in livestock loss and decreased availability of food resources for animals, affecting their welfare and health.

What solutions exist to mitigate the impact of forest fires on livestock?

Solutions include implementing sustainable forest management practices, improving territorial planning, and promoting reforestation in affected areas. Additionally, education about forest fire prevention and creating firebreaks can help reduce future fire risk.

How are heat waves related to forest fires in Spain?

Heat waves increase forest fire risk, as high temperatures and environmental dryness favor fire spread. This, in turn, affects livestock by reducing water and pasture availability, which can cause thermal stress in animals.

What role does territory management play in forest fire prevention?

Proper territory management is crucial for forest fire prevention. This includes land use planning, shrub removal, and reducing accumulation of combustible materials that can fuel a fire, as well as promoting sustainable agriculture and livestock practices.

How does climate change affect livestock and forest fires?

Climate change contributes to intensifying extreme weather events, such as droughts and heat waves, which increase the frequency and severity of forest fires. This has a direct impact on livestock, as it can reduce pasture production and affect livestock health.

What forest fire prevention measures can be adopted in rural communities?

Rural communities can adopt measures such as education about proper fire management, creating fire prevention and extinction brigades, and promoting grazing practices that reduce fire risk, such as controlled grazing in high-risk areas.

What is the importance of vegetation continuity in fire prevention?

Vegetation continuity is fundamental for maintaining ecosystem health and can help hinder fire spread. A healthy ecosystem is more resilient to fires, benefiting both wildlife and livestock activity.

What impact do forest fires have on animal welfare?

Forest fires affect animal welfare by destroying their habitat, limiting access to food and water, and causing thermal stress. This can result in diseases, decreased production, and, in some cases, loss of animal lives.