Late-gestation in utero heat stress limits dairy heifer early-life growth and organ development

It is known that late-gestation heat stress has long-lasting impact on the future calf productivity, however less is known about the relationship between in utero heat stress and organs development. The authors of this study found that that the impact of heat stress leading to impaired milk yield is initiated early in development.
This study showed how in utero heat stress reduces body size and limits development of key organs with potential repercussions on dairy calf metabolic adaptation, immune function, and future productivity.

By Dado-Senn B, Field SL, Davidson BD et al.