Effect of variability in lighting and temperature environments for mature gilts housed in gestation crates on measures of reproduction and animal well-being1

Abstract

The effects of room temperature and light intensity before breeding and into early gestation were evaluated on the reproductive performance and well-being of gilts housed individually in crates. In eight replicates, estrus was synchronized in mature gilts (n = 198) and after last feeding of Matrix were randomly assigned to a room temperature of 15°C (COLD), 21°C (NEUTRAL), or 30°C (HOT) and a light intensity of 11 (DIM) or 433 (BRIGHT) lx. Estrous detection was performed daily and gilts inseminated twice. Blood samples were collected before and after breeding for determination of immune measures and cortisol concentrations. Gilt ADFI, BW, and body temperature were measured. On d 30 postbreeding, gilts were slaughtered to recover reproductive tracts to evaluate pregnancy and litter characteristics. There were no temperature × light intensity interactions for any response variable. Reproductive measures of follicle development, expression of estrus, ovulation rate, pregnancy rate (83.2%), litter size (14.3 ± 0.5), and fetal measures were not affected by temperature or lighting (P > 0.10). Gilts in COLD (37.6°C) had a lower (P < 0.05) rectal temperature than those in NEUTRAL (38.2°C) and HOT (38.6 ± 0.04°C). Both BW gain and final BW were greater (P < 0.0001) for gilts kept in HOT than those in NEUTRAL or COLD environments. Cortisol was greater (P < 0.01) for gilts kept in COLD compared with those kept in the HOT room. Gilts housed in the HOT environment made more postural changes (P < 0.05) than did those kept in either COLD or NEUTRAL temperatures. Gilts kept in the HOT temperature spent more total time lying and more time lying ventrally compared with those gilts housed in the NEUTRAL or COLD rooms. Total white blood cells and the percentage of neutrophils as well as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were all influenced (P < 0.05) by temperature but there was no effect (P > 0.10) of light or interaction with temperature on other immune cells or measures. These results indicate that temperatures in the range of 15 to 30°C or light intensity at 11 to 433 lx do not impact reproduction during the follicular phase and into early gestation for mature gilts housed in gestation crates. However, room temperature does impact physiological, behavioral, and immune responses of mature gilts and should be considered as a potential factor that may influence gilt well-being during the first 30 d postbreeding.

Relationship between cortisol and acute phase protein concentrations in female rabbits

“…Consistent with studies in cattle (Bernardini et al, 2012), sheep (Miranda-de la Lama et al, 2010, and pigs (Canaday et al, 2013), cortisol concentrations in rabbits were lowest in summer. Seasonal variation in immune responses has also been described in several species (reviewed by Nelson and Drazen, 2010).…”

High environmental temperature around farrowing induced heat stress in crated sows

“…Moreover, in the present experiment, no difference between groups were observed for the number of feeder visits and time standing at the feeder during the observation period before farrowing. These behaviors have been described as indicators of heat discomfort caused by high ambient temperatures (De Oliveira Júnior et al, 2011;Canaday et al, 2013). The number of postural changes, which is considered to increase as a general response to stress in sows (Jarvis et al, 1999), also did not increase in the present experiment.…”

“…This modification of sow postural behavior was the only behavior strategy to adapt to the high ambient temperature observed in our study. Canaday et al (2013), although working with mature nonlactating gilts, also found that animals kept in crates in a hot environment (30°C) spent a higher proportion of time lying laterally, whereas gilts kept in crates in neutral and cold environments spent more time lying in the ventral position. Nonetheless, Canaday et al (2013) also observed that gilts in a hot environment reduced the proportion of time spent in a standing position, as did Renaudeau et al (2003), who studied sows kept at 28°C between d 8 and 14 of lactation.…”

“…Canaday et al (2013), although working with mature nonlactating gilts, also found that animals kept in crates in a hot environment (30°C) spent a higher proportion of time lying laterally, whereas gilts kept in crates in neutral and cold environments spent more time lying in the ventral position. Nonetheless, Canaday et al (2013) also observed that gilts in a hot environment reduced the proportion of time spent in a standing position, as did Renaudeau et al (2003), who studied sows kept at 28°C between d 8 and 14 of lactation. Moreover, in the present experiment, no difference between groups were observed for the number of feeder visits and time standing at the feeder during the observation period before farrowing.…”

Effect of Floor Cooling on Behavior and Heart Rate of Late Lactation Sows Under Acute Heat Stress

“…When comparing a thermoneutral environment of 20°C to a heat stress environment of 28°C over a 6 days period, lactating sows have been observed to reduce standing and sitting postures from 18 to 11.6% of time ( 43 , 48 ) and correspondingly increase lying postures, especially lying laterally ( 9 ). Moreover, non-lactating gilts maintained for 30 days in a hot environment of 30°C spent also more time lying laterally than lying sternally in comparison with neutral (21°C) and cold environments (15°C) ( 48 ). Lying laterally appears to be a strategical posture when pigs suffer from a heat stress.…”