The heat cycle in a normal cow is 21 days on average. It is rare that dairy cows on heat and in confinement will express all the heat signs. These include anxiety, watching over the fence ...

Thus it is recommended that the cow is inseminated between 4 – 16 hours after the onset of heat signs. Body condition which is dependent on nutrition is another key factor in conception.

When cows are heat stressed, many dairy producers have seen a drop in milk production and feed intake firsthand.