How heat placement in farrowing affects nutrient intake and pre-wean mortality (PWM)

摘要

The period from birth to weaning is critical for both sow and piglet, and each require separate, independent environmental zones. A sow's thermal-neutral zone (TNZ) is 17-18°C with upper critical temperature (UCT) of 21°C. Feed conversion has been proven to be improved in rooms with depressed temperatures.1 Room temperatures above the UCT will decrease feed intake of all lactating sows, but first parity sows are the most sensitive. Daily feed intake decreases by 0.44 kg per 0.6°C when temperatures rise above 19°C,2 which has negative effects on both the sow herself and her litter of piglets.