Inverkan av stora mängder halm som underlag i grisningsboxen på den nyfödda smågrisens temperaturreglering

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of large amounts of straw in the farrowing pen on thermal regulation of the newborn piglet in different weight classes. 20 sows were given 15 kg of straw in the farrowing pen 2 days prior to until 7 days after parturition. A control group of 18 sows had no straw in the pen. 6 litters from each treatment were observed. Measurements of piglet body temperature were made at 0h, 2h, 4h, 8h and 24h after parturition. At "8h" the body temperature of the piglets in the Straw group were significantly higher (P=0,0149) than the piglets in the Control group. The tendency was much the same at "24h" (P=0,0618). It also appeared to be the smallest piglets that benefit the most from a generous amount of straw in the pen. Another aim of the present study was to evaluate infrared (IR) thermal imaging as a method of measuring body core temperature. Whole body thermal imaging of piglets was made parallel to rectal measurement of body temperature. About 500 IR pictures were analyzed, the results showing strong correlation between mean skin temperature and rectal temperature as well as maximum skin temperature and rectal temperature.