Fluctuating ambient temperature for weaned pigs: effects on performance and immunological and endocrinological...

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Environmental Physiology
• Swine Nutrition

Background:

• Pigs are susceptible to heat stress, impacting their growth and health.
• Understanding the effects of different temperature regimens is crucial for optimizing swine production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of constant ambient temperature (CT) versus fluctuating ambient temperature (FT) on nursery pigs.
• To evaluate the effects of these temperature treatments on growth performance, feed intake, feed-conversion efficiency, and key physiological and immunological parameters.

Main Methods:

• Crossbred barrows and gilts were weaned and housed in controlled environments.
• Pigs were assigned to either CT or FT conditions for a 4-week nursery phase.
• Growth, feed intake, blood parameters (glucose, cortisol, insulin), and immune cell counts were monitored weekly.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in weekly growth performance, feed intake, or feed-conversion efficiency were observed between CT and FT groups.
• Insulin concentrations were higher in FT pigs at weeks 2 and 4.
• Mature neutrophil counts increased in FT pigs at weeks 1 and 3, and eosinophils were elevated at week 4.
• Plasma glucose, serum cortisol, monocyte phagocytic function, and E. coli antibody response were similar across treatments.

Conclusions:

• Fluctuating temperatures did not negatively impact overall growth performance or key immune functions in nursery pigs.
• FT regimens may induce specific physiological changes, such as altered insulin and neutrophil levels, warranting further investigation.
• These findings suggest that FT may be a viable alternative to CT in swine nurseries without compromising performance or immunity.