Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin

Service-Navigation

Feedback | Startseite
Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin/

Veterinärmedizinische Bibliothek

Mikronavigation

    Publikationsdatenbank

    Impact of heat stress on conception rate of dairy cows in the moderate climate considering different temperature-humidity index thresholds, periods relative to breeding, and heat load indices (2014)

    Art
    Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag
    Autoren
    Schüller, L K (WE 19)
    Burfeind, O (WE 19)
    Heuwieser, W (WE 19)
    Quelle
    Theriogenology; 81(8) — S. 1050–1057
    ISSN: 0093-691x
    Sprache
    Englisch
    Verweise
    DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2014.01.029
    Pubmed: 24612695
    Kontakt
    Tierklinik für Fortpflanzung

    Königsweg 65
    Haus 27
    14163 Berlin
    +49 30 838 62618
    fortpflanzungsklinik@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

    Abstract / Zusammenfassung

    The objectives of this retrospective study were to investigate the relationship between temperature-humidity index (THI) and conception rate (CR) of lactating dairy cows, to estimate a threshold for this relationship, and to identify periods of exposure to heat stress relative to breeding in an area of moderate climate. In addition, we compared three different heat load indices related to CR: mean THI, maximum THI, and number of hours above the mean THI threshold. The THI threshold for the influence of heat stress on CR was 73. It was statistically chosen based on the observed relationship between the mean THI at the day of breeding and the resulting CR. Negative effects of heat stress, however, were already apparent at lower levels of THI, and 1 hour of mean THI of 73 or more decreased the CR significantly. The CR of lactating dairy cows was negatively affected by heat stress both before and after the day of breeding. The greatest negative impact of heat stress on CR was observed 21 to 1 day before breeding. When the mean THI was 73 or more in this period, CR decreased from 31% to 12%. Compared with the average maximum THI and the total number of hours above a threshold of more than or 9 hours, the mean THI was the most sensitive heat load index relating to CR. These results indicate that the CR of dairy cows raised in the moderate climates is highly affected by heat stress.