Evaluation of the effect of the indoor environment on the physiological responses of early-gestation sows in a commercial house in China

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The environment influences the sow's health and physiology during gestation. This study was conducted to evaluate indoor environmental parameters and physiological responses of early-gestation sows and investigate the possible methods for assessing the thermal environment in commercial houses.

Methods

A total of 20 early-gestation sows (commercial purebred Yorkshire) with an average body weight of 193.20 ± 3.62 kg were used for this study in winter, spring, summer, and autumn. The indoor environment parameters comprising dry-bulb temperature (Tdb), relative humidity (RH), and carbon dioxide (CO2) were recorded in 30-min intervals. Physiological parameters including heart rate (HR) and respiration rate (RR) of sows were also measured every 30 min. Wet-bulb temper

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10270292 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature