** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** GLOBAL WARMING POSES A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY AS HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURES BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND INTENSE THEREBY LEADING TO EXTREME CASES OF HEAT STRESS. POULTRY, A MAJOR SOURCE OF ANIMAL PROTEIN IN THE UNITED STATES, ARE HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT STRESS DUE TO THEIR ELEVATED BODY TEMPERATURE, INSULATING FEATHERS, AND THE LACK OF SWEAT GLANDS FOR COOLING. HEAT STRESS NOT ONLY HAS AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON ANIMAL PRODUCTION, BUT IT MAY ALSO IMPACT MULTIPLE GENERATIONS PRODUCED BY THE HEAT-STRESSED PARENTS, THEREBY LEADING TO SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC LOSSES AND POTENTIAL FOOD SECURITY AND SAFETY RISKS. THE EFFECTS OF HEAT STRESS ACROSS MULTIPLE GENERATIONS ARE MEDIATED BY EPIGENETIC (DNA) MODIFICATIONS THAT ARE POORLY UNDERSTOOD IN POULTRY SPECIES. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INVESTIGATE THE EPIGENETIC PROCESSES THAT DRIVE HEAT STRESS RESPONSES IN BIRDS USING PEKIN DUCKS AS A MODEL. OUR STUDY WILL EMPLOY AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH THROUGH ANALYSES OF PHENOTYPIC TRAITS RELATED TO PHYSIOLOGY, PRODUCTION, BEHAVIOR, AND WELFARE, AND THE EXAMINATION OF TRANSGENERATIONAL DNA CHANGES IN RESPONSE TO HEAT STRESS. THIS PROJECT WILL ENABLE US TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE UNITED STATES POULTRY INDUSTRY, CONSUMERS AND POLICY MAKERS REGARDING THE MOST EFFECTIVE INDICATOR TRAITS AND BREEDING STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE HEAT TOLERANCE IN DUCKS. FURTHER, WE AIM TO FORMULATE GUIDELINES THAT OUTLINE THE OPTIMAL UTILIZATION OF MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE HEAT TOLERANCE IN POULTRY. THIS IS AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH THAT OFFERS A POTENTIAL LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO THE EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON POULTRY PRODUCTION GLOBALLY.