Long-lasting effects of in utero heat stress on subsequent performances of heifers and primiparous cows

ABSTRACT: The performance of an adult dairy cow may be influenced by heat stress that occurs during her gestation. The present study investigated potential effects of temperature-humidity index (THI) experienced by a cow during pregnancy on the gestated daughter's performance on her first lacta...

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Main Authors: A. Vinet, C. Fouéré, B.C.D. Cuyabano, S. Mattalia, R. Vallée, A. Barbat, C. Bertrand, C. Hoze, D. Boichard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Dairy Science
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030224011597
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author A. Vinet
C. Fouéré
B.C.D. Cuyabano
S. Mattalia
R. Vallée
A. Barbat
C. Bertrand
C. Hoze
D. Boichard
author_facet A. Vinet
C. Fouéré
B.C.D. Cuyabano
S. Mattalia
R. Vallée
A. Barbat
C. Bertrand
C. Hoze
D. Boichard
author_sort A. Vinet
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: The performance of an adult dairy cow may be influenced by heat stress that occurs during her gestation. The present study investigated potential effects of temperature-humidity index (THI) experienced by a cow during pregnancy on the gestated daughter's performance on her first lactation, for the French Holstein and Montbéliarde dairy cattle populations. We analyzed 14 traits, all measured on genotyped cows: 305-d milk, fat, and protein yields; 305-d SCS; clinical mastitis (both occurrence and number of events); body conformation traits; and heifer and cow conception rate. To study the effect of heat stress, we considered the THI experienced by the gestating cow, averaged for each month of her pregnancy and then categorized in 7 classes (≤40, [40,45], [45,50], [50,55], [55,60], [60,65], and >65). These average THI classes were then fitted as categorical covariates in the regression models used for this study, which included other fixed effects, and the GEBV as a covariate, both specific to each trait, the latter being previously obtained from the official French evaluations. The THI effect was therefore estimated as the deviation between the observed and predicted performances. In general, the estimated heat stress effects were small, presenting limited practical impact on the studied traits, and particularly for fertility and udder health, the estimated heat stress effects were not statistically significant. For the production traits (i.e., milk, fat, and protein yields), the estimated effect associated with high THI experienced at the beginning of the gestation was negative, and slightly positive when associated with high THI experienced by the dam at the end of her pregnancy. Finally, our results suggest that under the current French climate conditions, heat stress experienced by cows during any stage of their pregnancy has limited impact on the future performance of their gestated daughters; however, we cannot exclude that a significant in utero heat stress effect may be present in climate conditions warmer than the French.
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issn 0022-0302
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publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Journal of Dairy Science
spelling doaj-art-3ca1bb00543644a0ae4c2b53589c238f2025-08-20T02:48:57ZengElsevierJournal of Dairy Science0022-03022024-12-0110712110651107710.3168/jds.2024-25168Long-lasting effects of in utero heat stress on subsequent performances of heifers and primiparous cowsA. Vinet0C. Fouéré1B.C.D. Cuyabano2S. Mattalia3R. Vallée4A. Barbat5C. Bertrand6C. Hoze7D. Boichard8Université Paris Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; Corresponding authorUniversité Paris Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; Eliance, 75012 Paris, FranceUniversité Paris Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, FranceIdele, 75012 Paris, FranceIdele, 75012 Paris, FranceUniversité Paris Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, FranceINRAE, US210 CTIG, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, FranceEliance, 75012 Paris, FranceUniversité Paris Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, FranceABSTRACT: The performance of an adult dairy cow may be influenced by heat stress that occurs during her gestation. The present study investigated potential effects of temperature-humidity index (THI) experienced by a cow during pregnancy on the gestated daughter's performance on her first lactation, for the French Holstein and Montbéliarde dairy cattle populations. We analyzed 14 traits, all measured on genotyped cows: 305-d milk, fat, and protein yields; 305-d SCS; clinical mastitis (both occurrence and number of events); body conformation traits; and heifer and cow conception rate. To study the effect of heat stress, we considered the THI experienced by the gestating cow, averaged for each month of her pregnancy and then categorized in 7 classes (≤40, [40,45], [45,50], [50,55], [55,60], [60,65], and >65). These average THI classes were then fitted as categorical covariates in the regression models used for this study, which included other fixed effects, and the GEBV as a covariate, both specific to each trait, the latter being previously obtained from the official French evaluations. The THI effect was therefore estimated as the deviation between the observed and predicted performances. In general, the estimated heat stress effects were small, presenting limited practical impact on the studied traits, and particularly for fertility and udder health, the estimated heat stress effects were not statistically significant. For the production traits (i.e., milk, fat, and protein yields), the estimated effect associated with high THI experienced at the beginning of the gestation was negative, and slightly positive when associated with high THI experienced by the dam at the end of her pregnancy. Finally, our results suggest that under the current French climate conditions, heat stress experienced by cows during any stage of their pregnancy has limited impact on the future performance of their gestated daughters; however, we cannot exclude that a significant in utero heat stress effect may be present in climate conditions warmer than the French.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030224011597dairy cattleprenatal effectsenvironmental effectstemperature-humidity indexfetal programming
spellingShingle A. Vinet
C. Fouéré
B.C.D. Cuyabano
S. Mattalia
R. Vallée
A. Barbat
C. Bertrand
C. Hoze
D. Boichard
Long-lasting effects of in utero heat stress on subsequent performances of heifers and primiparous cows
Journal of Dairy Science
dairy cattle
prenatal effects
environmental effects
temperature-humidity index
fetal programming
title Long-lasting effects of in utero heat stress on subsequent performances of heifers and primiparous cows
title_full Long-lasting effects of in utero heat stress on subsequent performances of heifers and primiparous cows
title_fullStr Long-lasting effects of in utero heat stress on subsequent performances of heifers and primiparous cows
title_full_unstemmed Long-lasting effects of in utero heat stress on subsequent performances of heifers and primiparous cows
title_short Long-lasting effects of in utero heat stress on subsequent performances of heifers and primiparous cows
title_sort long lasting effects of in utero heat stress on subsequent performances of heifers and primiparous cows
topic dairy cattle
prenatal effects
environmental effects
temperature-humidity index
fetal programming
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030224011597
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