Effect of Heat Stress on the Health and Performance of Dairy Cattle: A Comprehensive Review

Date Received: Jul 04, 2024

Date Accepted: Jun 26, 2025

Date Published: Jun 28, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31817/vjas.2025.8.2.

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Delower , H., Sabrina, R., Umme, K., Tasnim, B., Md Robiul , K., Jamai, M., … Mahabbat, A. (2025). Effect of Heat Stress on the Health and Performance of Dairy Cattle: A Comprehensive Review. Vietnam Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 8(2), 2575–2592. https://doi.org/10.31817/vjas.2025.8.2.

Effect of Heat Stress on the Health and Performance of Dairy Cattle: A Comprehensive Review

Delower Hossain (*) 1, 2 , Sabrina Rahman 2 , Umme Kulsum 3 , Sabiha Zarin Tasnim Bristi 1, 3 , Md Robiul Karim 4 , Anoar Jamai Masroure 1, 5 , Maksuda Begum 2   , Md Mahabbat Ali 2

  • Corresponding author: [email protected]
  • 1 Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi 26900, Italy
  • 2 Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
  • 3 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram 4225, Bangladesh
  • 4 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Gazipur Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh
  • 5 Klareco S.r.l., Palazzo Pignano26020, Italy

    • Keywords

    Heat stress, dairy cattle, production, immunity, reproduction

    Abstract


    Heat stress (HS) is a concerning issue for the health and performance of cattle and is manifested by various behavioral and physiological changes. HS leads to a decrease in dry matter intake, rumen activity, growth performance, and milk yield in animals. Extreme HS for at least three consecutive days increases the risk of death. HS also causes a decline in the ruminal microbiota, pH, and acetate concentration, and an increase in lactate-producing bacteria and the lactate concentration. Reduced feed and water intake lead to a decline in milk production. The milk protein and casein content go down due to insulin resistance and apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells caused by oxidative stress, but urea concentrations become higher. Milk’s metabolomes, glycine, proline, isoleucine, and phosphocreatine have been found to decrease, while citrate, acetone, and β-hydroxybutyric acid concentrations evidently increase. Blood cell count, glucose, protein, and IgG concentrations also fall due to HS. Short estrus, impaired follicular development, poor quality oocytes and spermatozoa, a reduced conception rate, and decreased semen quality have become very common. For all of this, the present study demonstrates the various effects of HS on cattle health, production, and reproduction.

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