Abstract: Context:Heat stress (HS) has a negative effect on milk production and on the final period of gestation. There is almost no information of HS effect on dairy cows with temperature?humidity index (THI) less than 72 and more than 68. Aim:Determine the effect of voluntary access to shade during the dry period on physiological parameters and subsequent postpartum performance of Holstein cows. Methods:Twenty-six multiparous cows were used in a randomised complete-block design to evaluate two treatments:without access to shade (CON) and with voluntary access to shade (SHA) for 62 ± 5.3 days before calving. During the dry period, cows were housed in two yards. After calving, cows were managed all together. The THI was used to characterise environmental conditions. During the dry period, rectal temperature (7:00 am and 5:00 pm), respiration rate (7:00 am, 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm) and animal behaviour (feed intake, rumination and standing) were measured. Dry matter (DMI) and water intake, bodyweight, body condition score, and serum insulin and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations were measured during dry and lactation periods. At calving, calf weight, composition of colostrum, placenta weight, cotyledon number and weight were recorded. During the lactation period, production and composition of milk and resumption of ovarian activity were measured. Key results:Average THI during dry and lactation periods were 70.7 ± 4.88 and 57.2 ± 6.53 respectively. During the dry period, SHA cows had a lower respiration rate at 1:00 p.m. (56 ± 0.8 vs 67 ± 0.8 breath per minute (b.p.m), P