[Results of no-contact measurement of surface temperature in swine]

Reported in this paper are results obtained from four measurement series on 353 sows, differing by biological status, and from two measurement series on 21 store pigs. The measurements were made by means of an infrared camera or a manual pyrometer. The sows were measured on livestock farms in varying environment, while the store pigs were tested in conditioning compartments. While data from direct measurement differed considerably within one group of animals and even in one and the same animal, depending on measuring points and measuring time, with such physiologically caused variation being in line with expectations, remote-optical no-contact measurement of surface temperature, on the basis of infrared radiation, was confirmed as a practicable method. Further improvement of instruments and measuring techniques will be conductive, no doubt, to positive trends regarding scatter between sites of measurement. This will enhance the accuracy of the method. Proposals are made for the arrangement of future measurement series, with measuring points being discussed and compared for their particular suitability, in the context of the above method. Specific reference is made to eyes, ear base, flanks, teats, anus, and vagina.