During summer months, elevated barn temperature reduces pig growth rate by decreasing feed intake. Two trials
were conducted over two summers to evaluate the effect of reduced nocturnal temperature on the performance and carcass
quality of growing–finishing pigs. Control rooms had a typical temperature setpoint while the temperature setpoint for
treatment rooms was 6
³
C lower. In Saskatchewan, a reduced temperature setpoint resulted in a lower nocturnal room
temperature (1.6 o C cooler over eight weeks), while it had no influence on room daytime temperature. The average daily
temperature fluctuation in treatment rooms was increased by 2.1 o C. The lower nocturnal temperature also resulted in a higher
relative humidity (+3%) and lower CO2 and NH3 concentrations. During trial 1, pig average daily gain (ADG) in the
treatment room was increased by 5.2%. For trial 2, feed intake was 3.2% higher in treatment rooms, which increased ADG
by 2.1% on average over eight weeks. The ADG increase averaged 3.6% during the last four weeks of trial 2. However, no
statistical differences were found for pig performance, feed conversion, and backfat thickness (P > 0.05). The results suggest
that healthy pigs are not negatively affected by a large daily temperature fluctuation (up to 14.8
³
C) as long as this fluctuation
is progressively achieved.
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M. Ellersieck,et al.
Effects of temperature on the performance of finishing swine: I. Effects of a hot, diurnal temperature on average daily gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency.
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M. Ellersieck,et al.
Effects of temperature on the performance of finishing swine: II. Effects of a cold, diurnal temperature on average daily gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency.
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1991,
Journal of animal science.
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G. LeRoy Hahn,et al.
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