An assessment of optimal air temperatures in pig houses by the quantification of behavioural and health-related problems

Abstract

Air temperatures were measured every 2 h in 12 growing-finishing pig houses. All houses were operated on the all-in, all-out, principle. Data were collected for two fattening periods in each house. Stocking density, feeding system, pig type, and the farmer's skill were standardized. Every 2 weeks, the houses were visited and live weight, mortality rate, the incidence of coughing and tail biting, and the extent of dirty lying areas were recorded. Air temperature limits could be isolated from the complex of factors affecting behavioural and health problems of pigs observed within these experiments. Sensitive periods within the growth period of the pigs seem to exist. At the onset of the fattening period (20 to 30 kg), pigs which have been transported from other farms need special care. During summer, mortality rate was lowered when the periodicity of the temperature cycles was lowered for 40- to 50-kg pigs, whereas for heavier pigs the mean maximal air temperature was important also. With respect to coughing, a statistically significant negative relation with the air temperature in the pig house was found for all weight classes, with interactions from the number of different temperature cycles within a 24-h period. In order to avoid dirty lying areas for 20- to 40-kg animals, air temperatures should be between 20 to 24°C, whereas for diarrhoea, animals of 40 to 50 kg were especially sensitive to the occurrence of low air temperatures. For minimizing tail biting, an optimal air temperature range of 20 to 22°C is suggested.