A 5-yearretrospective(from2008to2012)surveywascarriedoutbyanalyzingdataof
highproducingdairycowsrearedinfarmslocatedinanareaofsouthernApennines.
The indicatorsoffertilityobtainedwererelatedtoeitherseasonvariationsortempera-
ture–humidityindex(THI).Conceptionswereevaluatedpermonthonanannualbasis
(NCY), i.e.,aparameterobtainedbysubtractinggestationlengthtothecalvingdate.
A significantreductionofNCYwasfoundduringthesummermonths;furthermore,this
parameter decreasedalongwithTHIincrease.Thenumberofheatsdetectedvaried
similarlytoNCYandrepresentedthemaincauseoflowerfertilityconsequenttoheat
stress (HS).Theageatfirstcalvingwasnotsignificantlyaffectedbyeithertheseasonor
the THI.ThemeannumberofAI/pregnancyinrelationtothecalvingdatewassignificantly
affectedbytheseasonbutitwasnotrelatedtoTHI.Thenumberofdaysopenwas
significantlylargerintheanimalscalvedfromJanuarytoJulythanfromAugustto
December(163733 vs123736 days; Po0.001);thiscausesanannualeconomiclossof
several thousandeuroineachfarmanalyzed.Inconclusion,HScausessevereeconomic
lossindairyfarmslocatedinsouthernApenninesthatismainlyduetoalowernumberof
heats detectedaswellastoalargernumberofdaysopenandsemendosesused.