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Lying behaviour and adrenocortical response as indicators of the thermal tolerance of pigs of different weights

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

E Hillmann ,
C Mayer  and
L Schrader
E Hillmann*
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Sciences, Physiology and Animal Husbandry, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, CH-8356 Ettenhausen, Switzerland
C Mayer
Affiliation:
Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, CH-8356 Ettenhausen, Switzerland Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Federal Agricultural Research Centre, Doernbergstrasse 25-27, D-29223 Celle, Germany
L Schrader
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Sciences, Physiology and Animal Husbandry, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Federal Agricultural Research Centre, Doernbergstrasse 25-27, D-29223 Celle, Germany
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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The aim of this study was to assess optimal temperature ranges for fattening pigs of different weights kept in pens with partially slatted floors. We examined the behavioural and adrenocortical responses of pigs of different weights (25–35 kg, 50–70 kg, and >85 kg) to a wide range of ambient temperatures (2–29°C). On three days of each experimental period, we took saliva samples for the analysis of cortisol concentration, and recorded lying behaviour from 0800–0600h. Behavioural and cortisol parameters were analysed using linear mixed effects models. Optimal temperature ranges for the three weight-classes were calculated using logistic regression. Pigs chose different areas for resting depending on ambient temperature. With increasing temperature, pigs used the dung area more often and lay more often without contact with pen mates. Compared to lighter pigs, heavier pigs lay without contact with pen mates at lower temperatures. In general, lying without contact occurred at temperatures 5–7°C lower than lying in the dung area. Huddling increased with decreasing temperature, and, with increasing weight, pigs showed huddling at lower temperatures. There was a significant increase in cortisol levels at high ambient temperatures in pigs >85 kg. In pens with partially slatted floors, the results indicate temperature ranges within the thermal tolerance of pigs to be 19–21°C for pigs weighing 25–35 kg (lying area of 0.46 m2/pig), 10–17°C for pigs between 50–70 kg and 5–17°C for pigs >85 kg (both weights: lying area of 0.67 m2/pig).

Keywords

adaptationanimal welfarecortisollying behaviourpigtemperaturethermoregulation
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , August 2004 , pp. 329 - 335
Copyright
© 2004 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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