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Reduced Nocturnal Temperatures for Early Weaned Pigs^{1, 2, 3,}

University of Nebraska Northeast Station, Concord 68728

Abstract

Three experiments of 5 wk duration were conducted to evaluate the effect of reduced nocturnaltemperatures (RNT) on weaned pig performance. Treatments were 1) a control regimen (CR) of 30 C constant air temperature lowered 2 C/wk and 2) a regimen where the temperature from 1900 to 0700 h was lowered to 25 C for three nights followed by 20 C for four nights during the first week and then lowered 1 C/wk thereafter (RNT). Weaned pigs averaging 23 ± 2 d of age at the start of the experiments gained faster (P<.01) in the RNT treatment vs the CR treatment in Exp. 1, 2 and 3, respectively (.32 vs .28; .39 vs .37; .35 vs .34 kg/d). The improvement in gain was accompanied by an increase (P<.005) in feed intake for the same period (.48 vs .44; .61 vs .55; .58 vs .54 kg/d). There was no difference in feed conversion. Weaned pigs that were 1.9 to 2.3 kg lighter initially gained slower (P<.0005) compared with their heavier contemporaries (.27 vs .33; .33 vs .43 and .31 vs .33 kg/d) in Exp. 1, 2 and 3, respectively. This reduced gain was accompanied by a reduced (P<.0005) feed intake (.40 vs .51; .50 vs .66; .50 vs .62 kg/d). There was no interaction of initial weight and temperature regimen.

¹ Journal paper no. 7545, Univ. of Nebraska Agr. Exp. Sta.

² The authors acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Dennis Forsberg with animal care and Mr. Dave Pankaskie with data collection and analysis.

³ Funded in part by a grant from the Nebraska Pork Producers Association, Lincoln, NE 68583.

⁴ Dept. of Anim. Sci.

⁵ Dept. of Agr. Eng.