Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T05:44:58.822Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Climatic effects on sow fertility and piglet survival under influence of a moderate climate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2014

K. Wegner ,
C. Lambertz ,
G. Daş ,
G. Reiner  and
M. Gauly
K. Wegner*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, Georg August University, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
C. Lambertz
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, Georg August University, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
G. Daş
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, Georg August University, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
G. Reiner
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Justus Liebig University, Frankfurter Str. 112, 35392 Giessen, Germany
M. Gauly
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, Georg August University, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
*
† E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Although the climate in Germany is moderate, heat stress conditions may occur during summer months. However, it is unknown to what extent sow fertility and piglet survival are affected under moderate climatic conditions in indoor systems. Therefore, this study estimated effects of temperature and temperature–humidity index (THI) on sow fertility and piglet survival under practical husbandry conditions. Temperature and relative humidity were recorded in six piglet-producing farms in Lower Saxony, Germany, from July 2011 to August 2012. Based on that, the THI was calculated. In one farrowing, waiting and servicing unit of each farm two data loggers were installed. Reproductive parameters of 8279 successful inseminations and 10 369 litters including total number of piglets born, liveborn, stillborn and weaned piglets as well as pre-weaning mortality were evaluated. The effects of temperature and THI on reproductive parameters were estimated for varying periods after breeding and before and after farrowing, respectively. Average daily temperature across all units ranged from 15.6°C to 29.0°C, and average THI from 62.4 to 75.1. Season and parity significantly affected total number of piglets born, number of liveborn, stillborn and weaned piglets (P<0.001). The number of piglets born increased with rising temperature and THI in the 1st week post breeding. Higher temperatures and THI values before farrowing resulted in a reduced number of liveborn piglets. Elevated temperature and THI values after farrowing were associated with a greater number of weaned piglets. The pre-weaning mortality significantly decreased with increasing temperature and THI values after farrowing (P<0.05). In conclusion, temperature and THI affected the reproductive performance of the sows and the survival of the piglets in different ways. While increased climatic values at the time of breeding positively affected the total number of piglets born, increased values at the time of farrowing had negative impacts on the reproductive performance of the sows. Piglets benefited from higher temperature and THI values after farrowing.

Keywords

climatepiglet survivalreproductive performancesowtemperature–humidity index
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 8 , Issue 9 , September 2014 , pp. 1526 - 1533
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Almond, PK and Bilkei, G 2005. Seasonal infertility in large pig production units in an Eastern-European climate. Australian Veterinary Journal 83, 344–346.Google Scholar
Auvigne, V, Leneveu, P, Jehannin, C, Peltoniemi, O and Sallé, E 2010. Seasonal infertility in sows: a five year field study to analyze the relative roles of heat stress and photoperiod. Theriogenology 74, 60–66.Google Scholar
Bianca, W 1976. The signifiance of meterology in animal production. International Journal of Biometeorology 20, 139–156.Google Scholar
Black, JL, Mullan, BL, Lorschy, M and Giles, LR 1993. Lactation in the sow during heatstress. Livestock Production Science 35, 153–170.Google Scholar
Bloemhof, S, van der Waaij, EH, Merks, JWM and Knol, EF 2008. Sow line differences in heat stress tolerance expressed in reproductive performance traits. Journal of Animal Science 86, 3330–3337.Google Scholar
Bloemhof, S, Mathur, PK, Knol, EF and van der Waaij, EH 2013. Effect of daily environmental temperature on farrowing rate and total born in dam line sows. Journal of Animal Science 91, 2667–2679.Google Scholar
Bohmanova, J, Misztal, I and Cole, JB 2007. Temperature-humidity indices as indicators of milk production losses due to heat stress. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 1947–1956.Google Scholar
Boon, CR 1978. Airflow patterns and temperature distribution in an experimental piggery. Agricultural Engineering 23, 129–139.Google Scholar
Brügemann, K, Gernand, E, König von Borstel, U and König, S 2012. Defining and evaluating heat stress thresholds in different dairy cow production systems. Archiv Tierzucht 55, 13–24.Google Scholar
Edwards, RL, Omtvedt, IT, Tuesman, EJ, Stephens, DF and Mahoney, GWA 1968. Reproductive performance of gilts following heat stress prior to breeding and in early gestation. Journal of Animal Science 27, 1634–1637.Google Scholar
Gauly, M, Bollwein, H, Breves, G, Brügemann, K, Dänicke, S, Das, G, Demeler, J, Hansen, H, Isselstein, J, König, S, Lohölter, M, Martinsohn, M, Meyer, U, Potthoff, M, Sanker, C, Schröder, B, Wrage, N, Meibaum, B, von Samson-Himmestjerna, G, Stinshoff, H and Wrenzycki, C 2013. Future consequences and challenges for dairy cow production systems arising from climate change in Central Europe – a review. Animal 7, 843–859.Google Scholar
Haeussermann, A, Hartung, E, Jungbluth, T, Vranken, E, Aerts, J and Berckmans, D 2007. Cooling effects and evaporation characteristics of fogging systems in an experimental piggery. Biosystems Engineering 97, 395–405.Google Scholar
Hahn, GL, Gaughan, JB, Mader, TL and Eigenberg, RA 2009. Thermal indices and their applications for livestock environments. In Livestock energetics and thermal environmental management (ed. JA DeShazer), pp. 113– 130. ASABE, St. Joseph, MI, USA.Google Scholar
Hälli, O 2008. Effect of environment and management on reproductive efficiency of sows with special emphasis on control of seasonal infertility. PhD thesis, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.Google Scholar
Huynh, TTT, Aarnink, AJA, Verstegen, MWA, Gerrits, WJJ, Heetkamp, MJW, Kemp, B and Canh, TT 2005. Effects of increasing temperatures on physiological changes in pigs at different relative humidities. Journal of Animal Science 83, 1385–1396.Google Scholar
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2007. Climate change 2007: the physical science basis. Contribution of working group I to the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA.Google Scholar
Johnston, LJ, Ellis, M, Libal, GW, Mayrose, VB and Weldon, WC, NCR-89 Committee on Swine Management. 1999. Effect of room temperature and dietary amino acid concentration on performance of lactating sows. Journal of Animal Science 77, 1638–1644.Google Scholar
Leenhouwers, JI, van der Lende, T and Knol, EF 1999. Analysis of stillbirth in different lines of pig. Livestock Production Science 57, 243–253.Google Scholar
Love, RJ, Klupiec, C, Thornton, EJ and Evans, G 1995. An interaction between feeding rate and season affects fertility of sows. Animal Reproduction Science 39, 275–284.Google Scholar
McArthur, A 1987. Thermal interaction between animal and microclimate: a comprehensive model. Journal of Theoretical Biology 126, 203–238.Google Scholar
McGlone, JJ, Stansbury, WF and Tribble, LF 1988a. Management of lactating sows during heat stress: effects of water drip, snout coolers, floor type and a high energy-density diet. Journal of Animal Science 66, 885–891.Google Scholar
McGlone, JJ, Stansbury, WF, Tribble, LF and Morrow, JL 1988b. Photoperiod and heat stress influence on lactating sow performance and photoperiod effects on nursery pig performance. Journal of Animal Science 66, 1915–1919.Google Scholar
Nardone, A, Ronchi, B, Lacetera, N and Bernabucci, U 2006. Climatic effects on productive traits in livestock. Veterinary Research Communications 30, 75–81.Google Scholar
National Research Council 1971. A guide to environmental research on animals. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.Google Scholar
National Weather Service Central Region (NWSCR) 1976. Livestock hot weather stress. Regional operations manual letter C-31-76. NWSCR, Kansas City, MO, USA.Google Scholar
Omtvedt, IT, Nelson, RE, Edwards, RL, Stephens, DF and Turman, EJ 1971. Influence of heat stress during early, mid and late pregnancy of gilts. Journal of Animal Science 32, 312–317.Google Scholar
Quiniou, N, Dagorn, J and Gaudré, D 2002. Variation of piglets’ birth weight and consequences on subsequent performance. Livestock Production Science 78, 63–70.Google Scholar
Renaudeau, D and Noblet, J 2001. Effects of exposure to high ambient temperature and dietary protein level on sow milk production and performance of piglets. Journal of Animal Science 79, 1540–1548.Google Scholar
Renaudeau, D, Collin, A, Yahav, S, de Basilio, V, Gourdine, JL and Collier, RJ 2012. Adaptation to hot climate and strategies to alleviate heat stress in livestock production. Animal 6, 707–728.Google Scholar
Sanker, C, Lambertz, C and Gauly, M 2013. Climatic effects in Central Europe on the frequency of medical treatments of dairy cows. Animal 7, 316–321.Google Scholar
Seedorf, J, Hartung, J, Schröder, M, Linkert, KH, Pedersen, S, Takai, H, Johnson, JO, Metz, JHM, Groot Koerkamp, PWG, Uenk, GH, Phillips, VR, Holden, MR, Sneath, RW, Short, JL, White, RP and Wathes, CM 1998. Temperature and moisture conditions in livestock buildings in Northern Europe. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 70, 49–57.Google Scholar
Suriyasomboon, A, Lundeheim, N, Kunavongkrit, A and Einarsson, S 2006. Effect of temperature and humidity on reproductive performance of crossbred sows in Thailand. Theriogenology 65, 606–628.Google Scholar
Tantasuparuk, W, Lundeheim, N, Dalin, AM, Kunavongkrit, A and Einarsson, S 2000. Reproductive performance of purebred Landrace and Yorkshire sows in Thailand with special reference to seasonal influence and parity number. Theriogenology 54, 481–496.Google Scholar
Wan, SS, Hennessy, DP and Cranwell, PD 1994. Seasonal infertility, stress and adrenocortical responsiveness in pigs. Animal Reproduction Science 34, 265–279.Google Scholar