Behavior and Performance of Suckling Piglets Provided Three Supplemental Heat Sources
This study compared water-heated mats (WM) and electric-heated mats (EM) with heat lamps (HL) as supplemental heat sources for suckling piglets. Forty-two litters were studied in 3 trials. In all trials, behavior of piglets was video-recorded on day 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 postpartum. Videos were scan-s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-07-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1155 |
| _version_ | 1797563060116783104 |
|---|---|
| author | Yunhui Zhu Yuzhi Li Michael Reese Eric Buchanan Joel Tallaksen Lee Johnston |
| author_facet | Yunhui Zhu Yuzhi Li Michael Reese Eric Buchanan Joel Tallaksen Lee Johnston |
| author_sort | Yunhui Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study compared water-heated mats (WM) and electric-heated mats (EM) with heat lamps (HL) as supplemental heat sources for suckling piglets. Forty-two litters were studied in 3 trials. In all trials, behavior of piglets was video-recorded on day 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 postpartum. Videos were scan-sampled to register postures (lying and standing) and locations (on or away from mat) to assess piglet use of heat sources. Litter size and weight at birth and weaning, and pre-weaning mortality were recorded. Data were analyzed using Glimmix Procedures of SAS. Piglets spent more time on WM than under HL (67.5% vs. 51.0%, <i>p</i> = 0.002). No difference in piglet performance between WM and HL was observed, except mortality tended to be higher in WM (22.9% vs. 8.9%; <i>p</i> = 0.06). Piglet performance and use of the heat source were comparable for HL and EM. When comparing WM with EM, piglets provided WM spent more time on the mat compared to those provided EM (21.8% vs. 17.1%; <i>p</i> = 0.02). No difference in pre-weaning mortality, litter weight, and individual daily gain was observed between WM and EM group. These results suggest EM and HL were comparable to maintain performance and postural behaviors of piglets. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:37:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-204ebf676e324628a5a095fd32951ca1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:37:13Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-204ebf676e324628a5a095fd32951ca12023-11-20T06:05:31ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-07-01107115510.3390/ani10071155Behavior and Performance of Suckling Piglets Provided Three Supplemental Heat SourcesYunhui Zhu0Yuzhi Li1Michael Reese2Eric Buchanan3Joel Tallaksen4Lee Johnston5West Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, Morris, MN 56267, USAWest Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, Morris, MN 56267, USAWest Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, Morris, MN 56267, USAWest Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, Morris, MN 56267, USAWest Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, Morris, MN 56267, USAWest Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, Morris, MN 56267, USAThis study compared water-heated mats (WM) and electric-heated mats (EM) with heat lamps (HL) as supplemental heat sources for suckling piglets. Forty-two litters were studied in 3 trials. In all trials, behavior of piglets was video-recorded on day 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 postpartum. Videos were scan-sampled to register postures (lying and standing) and locations (on or away from mat) to assess piglet use of heat sources. Litter size and weight at birth and weaning, and pre-weaning mortality were recorded. Data were analyzed using Glimmix Procedures of SAS. Piglets spent more time on WM than under HL (67.5% vs. 51.0%, <i>p</i> = 0.002). No difference in piglet performance between WM and HL was observed, except mortality tended to be higher in WM (22.9% vs. 8.9%; <i>p</i> = 0.06). Piglet performance and use of the heat source were comparable for HL and EM. When comparing WM with EM, piglets provided WM spent more time on the mat compared to those provided EM (21.8% vs. 17.1%; <i>p</i> = 0.02). No difference in pre-weaning mortality, litter weight, and individual daily gain was observed between WM and EM group. These results suggest EM and HL were comparable to maintain performance and postural behaviors of piglets.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1155behaviorperformancepigletsheat source |
| spellingShingle | Yunhui Zhu Yuzhi Li Michael Reese Eric Buchanan Joel Tallaksen Lee Johnston Behavior and Performance of Suckling Piglets Provided Three Supplemental Heat Sources Animals behavior performance piglets heat source |
| title | Behavior and Performance of Suckling Piglets Provided Three Supplemental Heat Sources |
| title_full | Behavior and Performance of Suckling Piglets Provided Three Supplemental Heat Sources |
| title_fullStr | Behavior and Performance of Suckling Piglets Provided Three Supplemental Heat Sources |
| title_full_unstemmed | Behavior and Performance of Suckling Piglets Provided Three Supplemental Heat Sources |
| title_short | Behavior and Performance of Suckling Piglets Provided Three Supplemental Heat Sources |
| title_sort | behavior and performance of suckling piglets provided three supplemental heat sources |
| topic | behavior performance piglets heat source |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1155 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yunhuizhu behaviorandperformanceofsucklingpigletsprovidedthreesupplementalheatsources AT yuzhili behaviorandperformanceofsucklingpigletsprovidedthreesupplementalheatsources AT michaelreese behaviorandperformanceofsucklingpigletsprovidedthreesupplementalheatsources AT ericbuchanan behaviorandperformanceofsucklingpigletsprovidedthreesupplementalheatsources AT joeltallaksen behaviorandperformanceofsucklingpigletsprovidedthreesupplementalheatsources AT leejohnston behaviorandperformanceofsucklingpigletsprovidedthreesupplementalheatsources |