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Effect of infrared temperature on thermoregulatory behaviour in suckling piglets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2009

G. Vasdal ,
E. F. Wheeler  and
K. E. Bøe
G. Vasdal*
Affiliation:
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, PO Box 5003, 1432 Ås, Norway
E. F. Wheeler
Affiliation:
Pennsylvania State University, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 228 Agricultural Engineering Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
K. E. Bøe
Affiliation:
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, PO Box 5003, 1432 Ås, Norway
*
†E-mail: guro.vasdal@umb.no
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Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of infrared (IR) temperature on thermoregulatory behaviour in suckling piglets in the first 3 weeks after farrowing. A total of 10 piglets from each of the 16 litters were exposed to recommended IR temperature conditions at 1, 2 and 3 weeks of age, with a mild offset (4°C) in IR temperature during the first experiment and a more challenging offset (8°C) during the second experiment. Digital photos were taken when all piglets had settled in the creep area, and the lying posture and huddling behaviour were analysed. A lying posture score and a huddling score was calculated by multiplying the number of piglets in each category with a given value for each category, based on different lying postures and different degrees of huddling behaviour. With a 4°C change in IR temperature, the piglets tended to alter their lying posture, while an 8°C change had a significant effect on lying posture (P < 0.01). A change in IR temperature of 4°C had no effect on the degree of huddling. The huddling score decreased significantly with 8°C change in IR temperature (P < 0.05). Postural changes, rather than changes in degree of huddling were the preferred thermoregulatory strategy for suckling piglets.

Keywords

huddlinginfrared temperaturesuckling pigletsswinethermoregulatory behaviour
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 3 , Issue 10 , October 2009 , pp. 1449 - 1454
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2009

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