It is well established that reproductive performance of sows depends on several factors, such as parity, breed, season, temperature and nutrition (1,2, 3). High ambient temperature leading to heat stress has been associated with decreased the voluntary feed intake of sows (2, 3). In Thailand, most pigs are raised in conventional open-air stables (CONV) where ambient temperature, relative humidity, and photoperiod follow those of the outside. The evaporative cooling (EVAP) housing system has been introduced to improve the microclimate for farm animals in Thailand. The EVAP system aims to reduce the temperature via a humidification process. This process reduces the temperature while increasing the relative humidity in the air (4). The aim of this study was to investigate the reproductive performance of lactating sows kept in different farrowing housing systems (FS), with respect to the EVAP system compared with the CONV system in Thailand.
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