Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-fwgfc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-12T02:04:40.987Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of low ambient temperatures on the energy metabolism of sows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. W. Holmes  and
N. R. McLean
C. W. Holmes
Affiliation:
Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
N. R. McLean
Affiliation:
Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Get access

Summary

1. The heat production of four sows, approximately 17 months old at the start of the experiment, was measured at five ambient temperatures from 23° to 6°C. Food intake was controlled at different levels for different sows; one sow conceived during the experiment.

2. Heat production increased consistently as temperature decreased from 23° to 6°C; the relative effect on heat production of exposure to low temperatures was greater the lower the level of feeding.

3. Estimated values for whole body conductance decreased as ambient temperature decreased to minimum values of 73 to 77 kcal/m2. day. °C for three sows and 87 kcal/m2. day.°C for the fourth sow, which had a considerably thinner backfat than the others.

4. Estimated values for lower critical temperature varied from 10° to 20°C, with the lower values associated generally with the higher levels of feeding; nevertheless heat production was consistently lower at 23°C than at 18°C.

5. Differences in level of feeding were generally associated with differences in live weight, and it was difficult to obtain reliable estimates of metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance and of net efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy above maintenance; however analysis on the basis of live weight0·75 produced values of 92 kcal/kg0·75 per day at 23°C and 106 kcal/kg0·75 per day at 18°C for maintenance and between 67 and 75% for the efficiency of utilization above maintenance.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 19 , Issue 1 , August 1974 , pp. 1 - 12
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1974

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Blaxter, K. L. 1962. The Energy Metabolism of Ruminants. Hutchinson, London.Google Scholar
Blaxter, K. L., Graham, N. McC., Wainman, F. W. and Armstrong, D. G. 1959. Environmental temperature, energy metabolism and heat regulation in sheep. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 52: 26–40.Google Scholar
Breirem, K. 1935. Energy metabolism in swine. Beretn. Forsogslab. No. 162.Google Scholar
Brody, S. 1945. Bioenergetics and Growth. Reinhold Publ Corp, New York.Google Scholar
Brouwer, E. 1965. Report of sub-committee on constants and factors. In Energy Metabolism (ed. Blaxter, K. L.) pp. 441–443. Academic Press, London.Google Scholar
Buskirk, E. R., Thompson, R. H. and Whedon, G. D. 1963. Metabolic response to cold air in men and women in relation to total body fat content. J. appl. Physiol, 18: 603–612.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Close, W. H. 1971. The effect of environmental temperature and plane of nutrition on heat losses from individual pigs. Anim. Prod. 13: 295–302.Google Scholar
Fuller, M. F. and Boyne, A. W. 1971. The effects of environmental temperature on the growth and metabolism of pigs given different amounts of food. Br. J. Nutr. 25:259–272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gonzalez-Jiminez, E. and Blaxter, K. L. 1962. The metabolism and thermal regulation of young calves in the first month of life. Br. J. Nutr. 16: 199–212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graham, N. McC., Wainman, F. W., Blaxter, K. L. and Armstrong, D. G. 1959. Environmental temperature, energy metabolism and heat regulation in sheep. J. agric. Sci. Camb. 52: 13–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holmes, C. W. 1968. Heat losses from young pigs at three environmental temperatures measured in a direct calorimeter. Anim. Prod. 10:135–147.Google Scholar
Holmes, C.W.I. 1973. The energy and protein metabolism of pigs growing at a high ambient temperature. Anim. Prod. 16: 117–133.Google Scholar
Holmes, C. W. and Mount, L. E. 1967. Heat losses from groups of growing pigs under various conditions of environmental temperature and air movement. Anim. Prod. 9: 435–52.Google Scholar
Ingram, D. L. 1964. The effect of environmental temperature on heat loss and thermal insulation in the young pig. Res. vet. Sci. 5: 357–364.Google Scholar
Maclean, C. W. 1968. The thin sow problem. Vet. Rec. 83: 308–316.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maclean, C. W. 1969. Observations on non-infectious infertility in sows. Vet. Rec. 85: 675–682.Google ScholarPubMed
Mount, L. E. 1972. Environmental physiology in relation to pig production. In Pig Production (ed. Cole, D. J. A.) pp. 71–90. Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
Sainsbury, D. W. 1972. Climatic environment and pig performance. In Pig Production (ed. Cole, D. J. A.) pp. 90–106, Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
Snedecor, G. W. 1956. Statistical Methods. 5th ed. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Ia.Google Scholar
Van Es, A. J. H. 1972. Maintenance. In Handbuch der Tierernährung, Band 2. Paul Parey, Hamburg.Google Scholar