ENVIRONMENTAL HEAT STRESS REDUCES THE WELLBEING, GROWTH PERFORMANCE, AND VALUE OF LIVESTOCK EVERY YEAR DURING THE SUMMER SEASON. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE TO MITIGATE, AND THEREFORE US LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS WOULD MOST BENEFIT FROM DIETARY AND PHARMACEUTICAL TREATMENTS THAT ALLOW THEM TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF HEAT STRESS ON THEIR ANIMALS. HEAT-STRESSED LIVESTOCK SUFFER FROM GREATER WHOLE-BODY INFLAMMATION, AND OUR OVERALL HYPOTHESIS IS THAT TREATING THIS INFLAMMATION WITH ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS AND NUTRACEUTICALS WILL REDUCE THE DEFICITS IN HEALTH AND GROWTH THAT OCCUR WHEN HEAT STRESS IS PRESENT. BY EXPOSING FINISHING LAMBS TO HEAT STRESS FOR 30 DAYS, OUR FIRST OBJECTIVE IS TO DETERMINE THE BENEFIT OF TREATING HEAT STRESS-INDUCED INFLAMMATION ON MUSCLE GROWTH AND BODY COMPOSITION BY ASSESSING THE EFFECTS ON MUSCLE STEM CELL FUNCTION, MUSCLE MASS, AND FAT-TO-MUSCLE RATIOS. OUR SECOND OBJECTIVE IS TO TEST THE IMPACT ON METABOLIC FUNCTION AND WELLBEING BY ASSESSING MUSCLE GLUCOSE OXIDATION, INSULIN SENSITIVITY, FAT GAIN, AND COMMON HEALTH STATUS INDICATORS. WE EXPECT THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY TO SHOW WHETHER EFFICIENT GROWTH AND PROPER HEALTH AND WELLBEING ARE RECOVERED IN HEAT-STRESSED ANIMALS WHEN STEPS ARE TAKEN TO MITIGATE THE ASSOCIATED SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION. IDENTIFYING MECHANISMS THAT AFFECT LIVESTOCK WELLBEING AND PERFORMANCE DURING HEAT STRESS IS A MUCH-NEEDED STEP FOR IMPROVING ANIMAL WELFARE, EFFICIENT FOOD PRODUCTION, AND AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY. SPECIFICALLY, OUR FINDINGS WILL PRODUCE NEW INFORMATION THAT WILL MAKE MITIGATION OF HEAT STRESS EFFECTS IN LIVESTOCK POSSIBLE THROUGH PHARMACEUTICAL AND/OR NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.