** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** ENVIRONMENTAL HEAT STRESS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS REDUCES THE HEALTH AND WELFARE, GROWTH PERFORMANCE, AND VALUE OF US LIVESTOCK EVERY YEAR. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DIFFICULTY, EXPENSE, AND INEFFECTIVENESS OF MITIGATING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS MAKE IT UNREALISTIC IN MANY CASES. THEREFORE, US LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS WOULD MOST BENEFIT FROM BIOACTIVE DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS AND PHARMACEUTICAL STRATEGIES THAT MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF HEAT STRESS ON THEIR ANIMALS. SUSTAINED HEAT STRESS AND HIGH BODY FAT BOTH CAUSE SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION IN LIVESTOCK, AND WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT TREATING THIS INFLAMMATION WITH ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIETARY COMPOUNDS WILL REDUCE THE LOSSES IN HEALTH AND GROWTH THAT RESULT FROM HEAT STRESS, PARTICULARLY IN HIGH-FAT FINISHING LIVESTOCK. WE WILL TEST THIS BY EXPOSING FINISHING LAMBS WITH MOSTEST AND HIGH BODY FAT TO CHRONIC HEAT STRESS. OUR 1ST OBJECTIVE IS TO DETERMINE THE BENEFIT OF TREATING THE INFLAMMATION IN THESE ANIMALS ON COMPREHENSIVE INDICATORS OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AS WELL AS GROWTH AND BODY COMPOSITION. OUR 2ND OBJECTIVE IS TO DETERMINE HOW THESE CHANGES AFFECT BEHAVIORIAL CHANGES THAT ARE PREDICTIVE OF POOR WELFARE USING A NOVEL ARTIFICIAL INTELLEGENCE MONITORING SYSTEM. WE EXPECT THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY TO SHOW THAT SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION IS AN EFFECTIVE TARGET FOR INTERVENTION STRATEGIES IN FINISHING LIVESTOCK EXPERIENCING HEAT STRESS. IDENTIFYING SUCH MECHANISTIC TARGETS FOR IMPROVING HEAT STRESS OUTCOMES IS A MUCH-NEEDED STEP FOR IMPROVING ANIMAL WELFARE, EFFICIENT FOOD PRODUCTION, AND AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY.