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A note on the critical temperature of the fasted and fed early-weaned pig

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. W. Jordan
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT9 5PX
A. McAllister
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX
S. T. C. Weatherup
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT9 5PX
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Abstract

The heat production of fasted and fed littermate pairs of pigs weaned at 10, 17 and 24 days of age was determined between 16 to 34°C. Up to and including 34°C the post-weaning heat production of fasted pigs at 10 and 17 days of age decreased with rising temperature. Rectal temperatures of all 24-day-old fasted pigs were higher at 34°C than at 31°C. For fed pigs weaned at 10 days of age the heat production continued to decrease up to and including 34°C. The decrease between 28°C and 31°C and between 31°C and 34°C was comparatively small and rectal temperatures were slightly elevated at 34°C. The results indicated that for fed pigs weaned at 17 and 24 days the thermoneutral zone was in the region of 31°C and the lower critical temperatures were about 28°C.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1985

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