Managing in the heat

Cool season preparation

Mating management: Will you mate through summer?

Increased heat loads during periods of continuously hot, humid weather can be severe on conception rates, and therefore in-calf rates, particularly in higher-producing cows.

Any decision to withhold insemination during hot weather needs to be carefully considered and take in to account not just savings in semen and insemination costs, but also the costs of delayed conception and the economics of a changed calving pattern. Seek professional advice.

When deciding whether to withhold insemination consider not just heat load on the day of insemination but,
more importantly, heat load for the past five weeks and expected heat load for the next week. Deferring
insemination until the cool of the following morning will have only minor benefits when compared with
infrastructure strategies such as providing shade during the entire hot season.