Two reduced nocturnal temperature tegimens for early-weaned pigs

Two experiments, each consisting of three trials and using 3- to 4-wk-old newly weaned pigs, were conducted to evaluate the effects of two reduced nocturnal temperature regimens on weaned pig and subsequent growing-finishing performance and nursery energy (propane and electricity) use. In Exp. 1, nu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of animal science Vol. 69; no. 4; pp. 1379 - 1388
Main Authors Brumm, M.C, Shelton, D.P
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 1991
Subjects
air temperature
ambient temperature
energy consumption
feed conversion
feed intake
growth
heating costs
liveweight gain
night temperature
pens
piglets
swine housing
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Summary:Two experiments, each consisting of three trials and using 3- to 4-wk-old newly weaned pigs, were conducted to evaluate the effects of two reduced nocturnal temperature regimens on weaned pig and subsequent growing-finishing performance and nursery energy (propane and electricity) use. In Exp. 1, nursery treatments were 1) a control temperature (CT) regimen of 30 degrees C constant air temperature lowered 2 degrees C/wk and 2) a regimen for pigs in pens with hovers (MRNT-H) in which the temperature from 1900 to 0700 beginning 1 wk after weaning was lowered 6 degrees C from the 0700 to 1900 temperature setting, which was 3 degrees C lower than CT. The nursery temperature treatments in Exp. 2 were 1) CT and 2) a 10 degrees C reduction in air temperature (MRNT10) from 1900 to 0700 from CT beginning 1 wk after weaning. In addition, within each temperature, diet sequences of 1.2% lysine for 3 wk followed by 1.0% lysine vs 1.15% lysine offered continuously were evaluated. In Exp. 1, there was no effect (P > .1) of temperature on feed intake but ADG decreased (P < .001) in two of the three trials for MRNT-H vs CT and feed/gain worsened (P < .05) in all trials. In Exp. 2, there was no difference between MRNT1O and CT for ADG and feed/gain. No interaction was observed between nursery diet and temperature regimen for weaned pig performance. There was no effect (P > .1) in either experiment of nursery temperature on subsequent growing-finishing performance. Overall energy savings comparing the MRNT-H and CT treatments were 68 MJ per weaned pig. Energy savings for Exp. 2 were 79 MJ per weaned pig. Application of cyclical temperatures in a controlled manner can result in energy savings of approximately $.50 per pig weaned under the conditions of these experiments.
ISSN:0021-8812
1525-3163