Impact of environmental temperature on production traits in pigs

There is an urgent need to identify the effects of temperature on production traits. This study aimed to determine the impact of pig production in three environments (T_{°Cgrowing-°Cfattening-°Cfinishing} = T_24-24-21, T_19-19-19, and T_23-17-15) on growth curve parameters, body weight gain (DBWG), feed intake (DFI), and feed efficiency during the growing, fattening and finishing stages, and on carcass yield of primal cuts (ham, shoulder, and loin) in 158 Duroc × Iberian pigs. Maturation rate was higher in T_23-17-15 than in T_19-19-19 (P < 0.001). Pigs in T_23-17-15 reached a lower mature body weight (P < 0.05). During the growing stage, pigs in T_23-17-15 had higher DFI than those in T_24-24-21 and T_19-19-19 (P < 0.05); during the fattening stage, DFI was lowest in T_24-24-21 (P < 0.001). In the growing stage, pigs had highest DBWG in the warmest environments (T_24-24-21 and T_23-17-15) and lowest in the coldest environment (T_19-19-19; P < 0.001). Feed efficiency was highest in warmer environments (P < 0.01). Temperature T_24-24-21 favored loin yield, T_19-19-19 favored ham yield, and T_23-17-15 favored shoulder yield (P < 0.01). The results imply a favorable effect of temperature on feed efficiency, however, possible negative implications for animal health and welfare should be considered.