The Effect of Heat Stress During the Insemination Period on the Conception Outcomes of Dairy Cows

This study examined the impact of heat stress during specific periods before and after insemination to identify the most critical time affecting insemination success in dairy cows. A total of 47,199 insemination records from 6751 Holstein-Friesian cows (2002-2024) were analysed using generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs) with a binomial distribution. The periods assessed were the day of insemination, 21-6 days before (P1), 5-2 days before (P2), 1 day before to 1 day after (P3), 2-7 days after (P4), and 8-30 days after insemination (P5). Mild heat stress significantly reduced insemination success on the day of insemination, with a critical THI threshold of 60. Among all periods, P1 was the most sensitive to heat stress, with even mild stress negatively affecting outcomes. Severe heat stress (THI ≥ 72) also impacted P3 and P5, whereas P2 and P4 showed no significant effect. Heritability estimates increased with heat stress intensity, suggesting genetic variability in resilience. These findings highlight the importance of managing heat stress from three weeks before to one month after insemination and support the potential for genetic selection to improve reproductive performance under heat stress conditions.