PSXVI-21 The effect of enhancing the thermal environment of piglets on physiology, behavior and productivity

To determine if increasing the heated area provided to piglets may improve their welfare; Sows (n = 27) were assigned to stalls using a traditional heat lamp (Control), or stalls using 2, 0.4 x 2.4 m heated mats (Heat). The mat temperature was maintained at approximately 39 °C until the 3rd d post-farrowing when they were replaced with a traditional heat lamp. At 1 d of age, piglets’ temperature was recorded, and blood samples were taken from 4 piglets per litter to measure cortisol, lactate, and glucose. Of these piglets, 2 were females and 2 males, 1 each weighing above average (thrifty) and 1 each below average (unthrifty). ADG of all piglets and mortality were recorded on d 3, when the heated mats were replaced with heat lamps, as well as at weaning. There were no treatment differences (P > 0.10) for cortisol (4.52 ± 0.22 ug/dL), glucose (102.84 ± 2.11 mg/dL), or lactate (2.42 ± 94.77 mmol/L). Unthrifty piglets had greater cortisol concentrations (5.45 ± 0.34 vs. 3.64 ± 0.24 ug/dL, P < 0.0001) and lower glucose (97.3 ± 3.06 vs. 108.37 ± 2.76 mg/dL; P < 0.0014) than thrifty. ADG was not different (P > 0.10) on d 3 (0.12 ± 0.01 kg) or at weaning (0.24 ± 0.003 kg). There was no difference in body temperature between treatments (39.23 ± 0.03 °F, P > 0.10). Day 3 mortality was lower in Heat crates than Control (0.04 ± 0.02 vs. 0.12 ± 0.03, P < 0.02); however, mortality at weaning did not differ (11 ± 0.02%, P > 0.10). In conclusion, increasing the warm area in farrowing crates with heated mats over the length of the piglet area may increase survivability while provided.

89 Effects of a Novel Heat Lamp Compared to Conventional Heat Lamps on Litter Performance

The objectives were to evaluate differences in productivity (mortality, number of pigs weaned and litter weights) and electricity usage between farrowing crates equipped with the HAVEN device or standard heat lamps. The HAVEN is a heat element designed to create a microclimate for newborn pigs. A total of 314 sows (Camborough; PIC, Hendersonville, TN) were initially allotted to the study in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) based on parity (P1, P2, P3+). Treatments consisted of control group (standard heat lamps) and treatment group (HAVEN device). Around d112 of gestation the sows were moved to the farrowing house and randomly allotted to the treatment. After farrow, litters were cross-fostered within treatment until 24-h after farrowing to equalize litter number to teat count. Litter size and weight were collected at the time of cross-fostering and at weaning. Sows had an ad libitum access to feed and water during lactation. Data were analyzed as an RCBD using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS with litter as the experimental unit and block as a random effect. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between treatments on litter growth performance. However, there were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the Control and Haven groups on piglets mortality and removals (%). The Control group had a higher incidence of mortality when compared to the Haven group (11.42% vs. 9.06%, respectively). In addition, the Control group had a higher (P < 0.05) percentage of pigs removed compared to the Haven group (18.41% vs. 15.55%, respectively). Regarding electricity usage, on average the HAVEN device consumed 1.55 Wh/day compared to 2.41 Wh/day from the heat lamp. In conclusion, under the conditions of this trial the HAVEN provided production benefits reducing mortality and removals (%), and also potential savings in electricity.

Greenhouse Monitoring System Using IOT

This project is based on human less maintenance of agriculture . In this the moisture of the soil, temperature and light intensity of the place will maintained automatically. Although we can predict the upcoming weather, there can be changes like sudden rain or harsh sunlight. These unpredicted changes in weather can destroy the crops. To avoid this, this system will automatically maintain the conditions which are favorable for the crops. If there is sudden rain and if the temperature is too low for the crops, the system will turn on the heat lamp due to which the temperature will be maintained. If due to high temperature, the moisture of the soils gets reduced, the system will turn on the water pump to maintain the moisture. Some crops need specific amount of light. If there is a situation that the surrounding light is low for the crops, then the system will turn on the light bulb to maintain the light intensity. In all these situations the farmer need not to run behind things like turning on water pump, light bulb, fan, etc. This system will take care of the maintenance of agriculture. All this data will be transmitted to the mobile device of the farmer.

Effect of drying and/or warming piglets at birth on rectal temperature over the first 24 h after birth

Piglets experience a rapid decrease in body temperature immediately after birth, increasing the risk of mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of drying and/or warming piglets at birth on rectal temperature over the first 24 h after birth. The study was carried out at a commercial sow facility using a completely randomized design with four treatments (applied to piglets at birth): Control (no drying or warming), Desiccant (dried using a desiccant), Warming Box (placed in a box under a heat lamp for 30 min), and Desiccant + Warming Box (both dried and warmed as above). Farrowing pens had one heat lamp, temperatures under which were similar to the warming box (35 °C). A total of 68 litters (866 piglets) were randomly allotted to a treatment at the birth of the first piglet. At birth, each piglet was identified with a numbered ear tag and weighed; rectal temperature was measured at 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 120, and 1,440 min after birth. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measures model using PROC MIXED of SAS. Litter was the experimental unit, piglet was a subsample of the litter; and the model included the fixed effects of treatment, time (the repeated measure), and the interaction. Rectal temperatures at birth and 1,440 min after birth were similar (P > 0.05) for all treatments. At all times between 10 and 120 min after birth, Control piglets had lower (P ≤ 0.05) temperatures than the other three treatments. The Desiccant and Warming Box treatments had similar (P > 0.05) temperatures at most measurement times, but the Desiccant + Warming Box treatment had the highest (P ≤ 0.05) rectal temperatures at most times between 10 and 60 min. In addition, for all treatments, light (<1.0 kg) birth weight piglets had lower (P ≤ 0.05) temperatures than medium (1.0–1.5 kg) or heavy (>1.5 kg) piglets at all times between 10 and 120 min. In addition, at these measurement times, the deviation in temperature between the Control and the other three treatments was greater for light than medium or heavy piglets. In conclusion, both drying and warming piglets at birth significantly increased rectal temperatures between 10 and 120 min after birth, with the combination of the two interventions having the greatest effect, especially for low birth weight piglets.

Diurnal Body Temperature and Rate of Passage of Loggers in Lions

The documentation of diurnal patterns in body temperature in lions could be important because disruption of circadian patterns can be a useful measure of distress. This study quantified changes in body temperature of seven African lions (Panthera leo) at 5 min intervals during cold conditions from noon until the ingested body temperature loggers were expelled the next day. Thirteen loggers were fed to 11 lions during their daily noon feeding, while ambient temperatures were also recorded using six data loggers. The lions had continuous access to their dens and exercise pens during the day but were restricted to their heavily bedded dens that also contained a heat lamp from 23:00 until 08:00 the next day. Body temperatures averaged 37.95 ± 0.42 °C at 15:50, and 36.81 ± 0.17 °C at 06:50 the next day, 30 min before the first loggers passed from a lion, and were significantly different (t-test, t = 8.09, df = 6, p < 0.0003). The mean duration for the time of passage was 22 ± 2.69 (h ± SD), so future studies using the noninvasive feeding of temperature loggers need to consider that time frame.

7 Effect of piglet birth weight and drying on post-natal changes in rectal temperature

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of piglet birth weight and drying piglets at birth on post-natal rectal temperatures using a CRD with 2 treatments: 1) Drying (not dried vs. dried at birth with a desiccant); 2) Birth weight [4 within-litter birth weight quartiles (Q1: 1.13 ± 0.33 kg, Q2: 1.43 ± 0.28 kg, Q3: 1.62 ± 0.28 kg, Q4: 1.81 ± 0.28 kg)]. Sows (26) and litters (281 piglets) were randomly allotted to drying treatment and were housed in farrowing crates with a heat lamp; room temperature was set at 22.8°C. Piglets were weighed at birth and rectal temperature measured at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, and 1440 min after birth. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC); the model included fixed effects of litter birth weight quartile and drying treatment and interaction, and time (repeated measure), and random effect of sow. Mean piglet birth weight and rectal temperature at birth were 1.49 ± 0.39 kg and 39.2 ± 0.43°C, respectively. There were no drying by birth weight treatment interactions. Temperatures were similar (P &gt; 0.05) for the drying and birth weight treatments at birth and 240 and 1440 min (Table 1). Drying increased (P &lt; 0.05) rectal temperature from 15 to 180 min; the greatest difference was at 45 min (2.4°C). Temperatures were similar (P &gt; 0.05) for Q2, 3, and 4 from 15 to 180 min. Quartile 1 had a lower (P &lt; 0.05) temperature than the 3 heavier quartiles from 15 to 180 min, except at 120 min when temperatures were similar for Q1 and 2. The lightest piglets exhibited the greatest post-natal temperature decline and drying of piglets at birth reduced the post-natal temperature decline in piglets of all weights.

PSV-4 Effect of drying and/or warming piglets at birth on rectal temperature over the first 24 hours after birth

Newborn piglets experience a rapid decrease in body temperature, increasing the risk of mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of drying and/or warming at birth on piglet rectal temperature over 24 h after birth. The study was carried out at a commercial sow facility using a CRD with 4 treatments: Control (no drying or warming of piglets), Drying (piglets dried at birth using a cellulose-based desiccant), Warming (piglets placed in a box under a heat lamp for 30 min after birth), and Drying+Warming (piglets dried and warmed as above). Piglets were identified with a numbered ear tag. They were weighed at birth and rectal temperature was measured at 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 120, and 1440 min (24 h) after birth. Sows and litters were randomly allotted at birth to treatments. Data were analyzed using a repeated measures model with PROC MIXED of SAS. Litter was the experimental unit and piglet was a subsample of the litter; the model included the fixed effects of treatment and repeated time, and the interaction. Rectal temperature at birth was similar (P > 0.05) for all treatments. Subsequently, piglets on the Drying and Warming treatments had similar (P > 0.05) temperatures, which were greater (P 0.05) than the Control at all measurement times up to 120 min. Drying+Warming resulted in the highest (P < 0.05) rectal temperature overall and at most times of measurement between 10 and 120 min. Rectal temperatures were similar for all treatment at 24 h after birth. In conclusion, drying and/or warming piglets at birth significantly increased rectal temperatures between 10 and 120 minutes after birth with the combination of the two having the greatest effect. This research was funded by the National Pork Board.