The effects of hot environments on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing pigs

Abstract

Pigs have limited physiological mechanisms to cool themselves therefore the range of temperature within their thermal comfort zone (TCZ) is quite narrow. The voluntary food intake of pigs is very sensitive to ambient temperature. Pigs exposed to temperatures above their TCZ exhibit either a reduction in total food intake, or a change to their meal patterns, such as eating larger meals during the cool periods of the day. Giles and Black (1991) reported that pigs were able to consume sufficient food if they spend adequate time within their TCZ to compensate for the reduction in intake during the time spent when temperatures were high. It is hypothesised that changes to meal patterns can impact energy and protein metabolism and hence affect the growth performance and carcass characteristics of the pig.