Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-frp75 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-29T09:48:55.742Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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: edna.hillmann@inw.agrl.ethz.ch
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

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

Information

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

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.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Andersen, IL, Boe, KE and Hove, K 1998 Cold housing of pregnant sows. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Agricultural Engineering, August 25-27th, Oslo, Norway pp 1-8Google Scholar
Andersen, IL, Sousa, P, Pedersen, S and Jensen, KH 2001 Pig behaviour in respect to temperature in pens with access to outdoor area. In: Proceedings of the International Symposium of the 2nd Technical Section of CIGR (International Commission of Agricultural Engineering) on Animal Welfare Considerations in Livestock Housing Systems pp 343–351. University of Zielona Gora and Agricultural University of Wroclaw: PolandGoogle Scholar
Becker, BA, Klir, JJ, Matteri, RL, Spiers, DE, Ellersiek, M and Misfeldt, ML 1997 Endocrine and thermoregulatory responses to acute thermal exposures in 6-month-old pigs reared in different neonatal environments. Journal of Thermal Biology 22(2): 87–93CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bianca, W 1979 Nutztier und klima. Der Tierzuechter 5: 188–192 [Title translation: Farm animals and climate]Google Scholar
Bockisch, F-J, Van den Weghe, H and Fritzsche, S 1998 Aussenklimastaelle fuer schweine: ergebnisse des Bundeswettbewerbs 1997/1998. Landtechnik 53(6): 350–353 [Title translation: Un-insulated housing for pigs: results from the Federal Contest 1997/1998]Google Scholar
Boon, CR 1981 The effect of departures from lower critical temperature on the group postural behaviour of pigs. Animal Production 33: 71–79Google Scholar
Botermans, J and Andersson, M 1995 Growing–finishing pigs in an uninsulated house. Swedish Journal of Agricultural Research 25: 83–92Google Scholar
Ekkel, ED, Spoolder, HAM, Hulsegge, I and Hopster, H 2003 Lying characteristics as determinants for space requirements in pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 80: 19–30CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Geers, R, Goedseels, V, Parduyns, G, Nijns, P and Wouters, P 1990 Influence of floor type and surface temperature on the thermoregulatory behaviour of growing pigs. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 45: 149–156CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Geers, R, Goedseels, V, Parduyns, G and Vercruysse, G 1986 The group postural behaviour of growing pigs in relation to air velocity, air and floor temperature. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 16: 353–362CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Geuyen, TPA, Verhagen, JMK and Verstegen, MWA 1984 Effect of housing and temperature on metabolic rate of pregnant sows. Animal Production 38: 477–485Google Scholar
Goetz, M and Rist, M 1984 Possibilities to avoid heat stress in pigs. In: Unshelm, J, Van Putten, G and Zeeb, K (eds) Proceedings of the International Congress on Applied Ethology in Farm Animals pp 209–213. Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry: Bonn, GermanyGoogle Scholar
Hauser, R and Mayer, C 2001 Klimaeinfluesse in der schweinemast. FAT Bericht 563: 1–16 [Title translation: Climatic effects on pig fattening]Google Scholar
Hillmann, E, Mayer, C and Schrader, L 2001 Die anpassungs-faehigkeit von mastschweinen an niedrige umgebungstemperaturen: ethologische und physiologische aspekte. Aktuelle Arbeiten zur artgemaessen Tierhaltung, KTBL-Schrift 407: 167–173 [Title translation: The ability of fattening pigs to adapt to low ambient temperatures: behavioural and physiological aspects]Google Scholar
Ingram, DL 1965 Evaporative cooling in the pig. Nature 207: 415–416CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jones, JB, Webster, AJF and Mathes, CM 1999 Trade-off between ammonia exposure and thermal comfort in pigs and the influence of social contact. Animal Science 68: 387–398CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mayer, C and Hauser, RH 1999 Temperaturgrenzen in der schweinemast. Agrarforschung 6: 244–245 [Title translation: Optimal temperatures in pig fattening]Google Scholar
Olsen, AW 2001 Behaviour of growing pigs kept in pens with outdoor runs: I. Effect of access to roughage and shelter on oral activities. Livestock Production Science 69: 255–264CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Randall, JM, Armsby, AW and Sharp, JR 1983 Cooling gradients across pens in a finishing piggery: II. Effects on excretory behaviour. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 28: 247–259CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruis, MAW, Te Brake, JHA, Engel, B, Ekkel, ED, Buist, WG, Blokhuis, HJ and Koolhaas, JM 1997 The circadian rhythm of salivary cortisol in growing pigs: effects of age, gender and stress. Physiology and Behavior 62(3): 623–630CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saellvik, K and Walberg, K 1984 The effects of air velocity and temperature on the behaviour and growth of pigs. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 30: 305–312CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stolba, A and Wood-Gush, DGM 1989 The behaviour of pigs in a semi-natural environment. Animal Production 48: 419–425Google Scholar