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The effect of departures from lower critical temperature on the group postural behaviour of pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. R. Boon
C. R. Boon
Affiliation:
National Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Silsoe, Bedford MK45 4HS and ARC Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham, Cambridge CB2 4AT
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Abstract

The postural behaviour of a group of 12 pigs in a pen was studied whilst the air temperature was varied, all physical variables except pig weight being held constant. The air temperature was varied between −4°C and + 5°C of the theoretical lower critical temperature. The range of live weight was from 30kg to 75 kg. An indication of whether the pigs were above or below their lower critical temperature was obtained from the amount of huddling. Pigs of less than 45 kg live weight had a greater tendency to modify their environment by altering their posture. Measurements of floor-area covered showed that pigs over 50 kg live weight occupied an area approximately equal to the recommended minimum whilst smaller pigs occupied up to 20% less area than that recommended, depending upon the temperature: this was due to the tendency of smaller pigs to lie on top of each other when cold.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 33 , Issue 1 , August 1981 , pp. 71 - 79
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1981

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References

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