NOW is a good time for dairy producers to assess their heat stress management programs as heat stress can impose a significant financial and welfare cost to a business.

 Heat stress has been shown to decrease milk yield by 10-25 per cent, feed intake by 10-20 per cent, decrease six week and 100 day in-calf rates, drop natural and artificial insemination conception rates, and increase the risk of clinical mastitis in higher yielding cows.