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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2010
An investigation was carried out to determine whether teat order has any effect on metabolic rate in young pigs as determined by oxygen consumption in the thermoneutral zone. A total of six sows and their litters was examined. Metabolic rate was determined at 1 day old and thereafter at 7-day intervals up to 57 days of age. Teat order was determined by regular observations of the piglets suckling. There was considerable variation in metabolic rate both within and between litters but there was no detectable effect of teat order on metabolic rate expressed as ml O2/W0·75 per min.