Response of finishing swine maintained in different thermal environments

Abstract

The objective in this study was to evaluate the behavior, physiological responses and the performance of the swine maintained in different thermal environments. Thirty barrows were used, distributed in a completely randomized design composed by two treatments (thermal comfort, 21°C and heat stress environment, 32°C). Pigs maintained under heat stress spent less time in the standing position, more time in the lying position, less time eating, rooting and more time sleeping. The period the animals remained in leisure and drinking was not affected by environment. The environment of heat stress caused a reduction of feed intake, weight gain and worsened feed: gain ratio. Moreover, the energy and protein utilization efficiency for weight gain was not affected by environments. Pigs submitted to environmental heat stress presented lighter carcasses, with higher values of carcass yield and lower percentage of meat, which resulted in lower bonus carcass index. Thermal environments which cause heat stress affect negatively behavior, physiological responses, performance and carcass quantitative characteristics of finishing swine.