230 Assessing Thermal Preference of Piglets Exposed to Early Life Thermal Stress. (7th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Robbins, L; Green-Miller, A; Johnson, J; Gaskill, B
• Is Part Of: Journal of animal science. Volume 96(2018)Supplement 3
• Page Start: 9
• Page End: 10
• Publication Date: 2018-12-07
• Subjects: Piglet -- Early life thermal stress -- Thermal preference -- Thermocline; Livestock -- Periodicals; Livestock; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 636.005
• DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky404.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8812

Abstract

Abstract: Thermal stress can result in productivity losses, morbidity, and mortality if proper management practices are not employed. However, early life heat stress (ELHS) exposure has demonstrated future thermo-protection in several species. Therefore, the study objective was to evaluate the thermal preference of piglets exposed to early life thermal stress (ELTS). We hypothesized that ELTS would alter thermal preferences of pigs later in life. Twelve sows and their litters were randomly exposed to one of three treatments: ELHS (cycling 32–38ºC with heating lamp; n=4), cold stress (ELCS; 25.4 ± 1.1ºC without heating lamp; n=4), or thermoneutral (ELTN; 25.3 ± 1.9ºC with heating lamp; n=4) conditions from 7-9d of age. At 20d old (±1.3d), piglets were weaned and randomly assigned into same sex and thermal treatment groups of 4. Thermal preference was assessed in 21 groups (n=3 per treatment) using a thermal gradient apparatus (22–40°C). Testing began at 26d and one group per treatment were tested simultaneously in separate apparatuses. Piglets were given 24h to acclimate and were tested the following 24h. Behavior (active, inactive, and maintenance) and location were documented every 20m using instantaneous scan samples. Data were analyzed as GLM with appropriate transformations. Early life thermal stress altered piglet thermal preference (F2, 276=3.83; P =0.02). Early life cold stressed piglets spent more time in 38–40°C than ELTN piglets ( P =0.015; 0.5%). Further, behavior was altered in different thermal locations (F2, 276=16.61; P <0.01). Piglets spent more time inactive in 23–26°C than maintenance or active behaviors ( P <0.01; 39% and 41%, respectively) and spent more time active in 30–34°C than inactive or maintenance behaviors ( P <0.01; 4% and 5.3%, respectively). Food consumption differed across thermal location (F1, 83=67.64; P <0.01) where more was consumed in 23–31ºC than 35–37ºC ( P <0.01; 17%). In summary, ELCS exposure may alter piglet thermal preference later in life; however, whether this preference is maintained throughout life requires further investigation.