J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J. Anim Sci. 1968. 27:408-411.
© 1968 American Society of Animal Science
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Teague, H. S.
Right arrow Articles by Grifo, A. P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Teague, H. S.
Right arrow Articles by Grifo, A. P., Jr.

Influence of High Temperature and Humidity on the Reproductive Performance of Swine1

H. S. Teague2, W. L. Roller3 and A. P. Grifo, Jr.2, 4,

Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster

Abstract

In a 3-yr. study 240 sexually mature Duroc gilts were used to measure the effects of high temperature on breeding and early gestation performance. Dry-bulb temperatures of 26.7, 30.0 and 33.3° C. were imposed for one estrus cycle prior to breeding and during the first 25 days of gestation. At each dry-bulb temperature a group of gilts were exposed to one of four different constant levels of dew-point temperature. Dew-point temperatures maintained were 11.1, 15.6, 20.0, 24.4 and 28.9° C.

Elevation of dry-bulb temperature increased the incidence of anestrus and the number of gilts which returned to estrus after breeding. Increased dew-point temperature did not have a conclusive effect on these same measures of breeding performance. The percent of gilts pregnant at the end of the experimental period, decreased with each increase in dry-bulb temperature.

An elevation of both dry-bulb and dew point temperature resulted in a highly significant(P<.01) decrease in feed consumption and rate of gain, and the interaction between the two effects was highly significant (P< .01). Change in dry-bulb, but not dew-point, temperature had a highly significant (P<.01) influence on rectal temperature.

Measured by the number of corpora lutea at 25 days after breeding, increasing dry-bulb temperatures significantly (P<.05) decreased ovulation rate. Differences in embryo number, however, were not significantly associated with temperature change.

Footnotes

1 Approved for publication as Journal Article No. 45–67 by the Associate Director of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster.

2 Department of Animal Science.

3 Department of Agricultural Engineering.

4 The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of C. R. Weaver, Center Statistician, in the analysis of data.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1968 by the American Society of Animal Science.