Heat stress increases the risk of embryonic mortality in dairy cows¹, which significantly affects the reproductive performance.
Cows can start feeling heat stress due to a combination of outside temperature increase and relative humidity (see the graph).
During period of hot weather, the embryonic loss rate can easily be doubled from a THr Index of 70.
Beside, high temperature and humidity environments are uncomfortable for dairy cows. Warm climates disrupt several reproduction process, leading to lower milk yields and reduced fertility, amongst other issues.
Most importantly during summer, farmers may expect financial losses of about 6.6% of their monthly income⁶. One open cow can cost up to 5 euros per day on average.
During periods of hot weather, simply identify open cows with the Alertys Milk Pregnancy Test. Our test will help you easily identify open cows by detecting Pregnancy Associated Glycoproteins (PAGs), which are only produced in the presence of an embryo or foetus.
With just a few drops of milk you can:
✓ Find open cows as early as 28 days post-insemination
✓ Ensure less handling and avoid extra stress for you and your cows
✓ Confirm pregnancy status throughout gestation
✓ Optimise profitability and improve reproductive performance
References:
1) Santos et al. ‘Animal Reproduction Science’ 82–83 (2004) 513–535. 2) http://www.fidocl.fr/content/lait-dete-et-chaleur-limiter-le-stress-thermique-chez-la-vache-laitiere 3) Heat Stress and Dairy Cow: Impact on Both Milk Yield and Composition August 2016 International Journal of Dairy Science 4) Impact of heat stress on cow reproduction and fertility. David Wolfenson, Zvi Roth. Animal Frontiers, Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2019, Pages 32–38
5) Impact of heat stress on lactational performance of dairy cows. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.02.048
6) Hempel S. et al. Heat stress risk in European dairy cattle husbandry under different climate change scenarios – uncertainties and potential impacts. Earth System Dynamics Discussions. pp1-38. May 2019.
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