Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version.


If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options.

Group Size Effects on Heat Production Measurements

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Paper number  014047,  2001 ASAE Annual Meeting. (doi: 10.13031/2013.4274) @2001
Authors:   T.M. Brown-Brandl, J.A. Nienaber
Keywords:   nursery pigs, calorimetry, activity, temperature

Current swine standards underestimate total heat production (THP) approximately 30%, but before standards are updated, several protocol questions need to be answered. A study was designed to determine if individual animal heat production would be representative of group heat production. Thirty Large White x Landrace cross-bred barrows weighing approximately 5 - 10 kg were randomly assigned to one of two group treatments, group penned (G) (four pigs/pen), or individually penned (I). In a repeated Latin Square design, over a three-wk period pens were exposed to each of three temperature treatments18, 25, or 32C, for a 21-hr period. Total heat production, latent heat loss (LHL) and sensible heat loss (SHL) were calculated using indirect calorimetry methods. Results indicated that there were no differences due to group size in THP (I-765 vs. G-769 KJ/kg0.75*day), SHL (I-376 vs G-418 KJ/kg0.75*day), or LHL (I-406 vs. G-352 KJ/kg0.75*day). Temperature treatment had a significant impact on THP (18C- 833, 25C-757, 32C-708 KJ/kg0.75*day), SHL (18C-597, 25C-414, 32C-180 KJ/kg0.75*day), and LHL (18C- 253, 25C-347, 32C-537 KJ/kg0.75*day). These data suggest that heat production measurements taken on individual animals would be the same as group animal data.

(Download PDF)    (Export to EndNotes)