Impact of heat stress on embryonic development during first 16 days of gestation in dairy cows

Objective was to elucidate the effects of heat stress (HS) on embryo development during first 16 gestational days (GD) and circulating hormone concentrations on GD-16 in lactating Holstein cows. Cows in HS and control (CON) groups were exposed to temperature humidity index (THI) of ≥ 73 and < 73, respectively, for 3 weeks before the experiment. GD-7 (67 vs 49%) and GD-16 (52 vs. 31%) conception rates following single insemination were greater (P < 0.01) for CON compared with HS cows. Control cows produced more GD-7 transferrable embryos following superovulation compared with HS cows (84.8 vs 53.1%; P < 0.001). Mean (± SEM) length (45.2 ± 10.6 vs. 59.2 ± 9.1 mm) and weight (31.4 ± 4.3 vs. 42.4 ± 6.2 mg) of GD-16 conceptus were greater for CON compared with HS cows (P < 0.05). Control cows yielded more filamentous conceptus (≥ 25 mm) compared with HS cows (71 vs 45%; P < 0.05). Progesterone (2.09-fold) was higher, and cortisol (1.86-fold), prolactin (1.60-fold), substance-P (1.55-fold), Isoprostane-8 (1.34-fold) and prostaglandin F metabolites (1.97-fold) were lower in CON compared with HS cows (P < 0.05). Progesterone positively, and substance-P, isoprostane-8 and the THI negatively were associated with GD-16 conceptus length (P < 0.05). In conclusion, altered hormones concentrations in heat-stressed cows plausibly resulted in lower GD-7 and GD-16 conception rates, fewer GD-7 transferable embryos, and stunted GD-16 conceptus elongation.