Performance of Neonatal and Newly-Weaned Pigs as Affected by Temperature and Diet

ABSTRACT Aseries of experiments was used to evaluate the interacting effects of farrowing house temperature, nursery temperature, and ration energy content on the performance of pigs weaned during the fourth week. Temperatures of 15 and 26°C were used in farrowing and 5 to 35°C in the nursery. Pigs in the cold farrowing room experienced increased death loss, which averaged 0.5 to 0.6 more deaths per litter. Creep feed consumption by the piglets increased in the warm room. Farrowing house temperature did not affect the growth of pigs in the nursery. Nursery temperatures and ration energy content interacted to affect performance of pigs if disease problems were present. The high energy ration and 20°C combined to give pigs the best performance where diarrhea was a problem; however, with healthy pigs there was no effect of 5°C or ration energy content on the growth rate of newly-weaned pigs over a seven-week period. High temperatures (35°C) in the nursery depressed feed intake and growth rate regardless of ration energy content or health status.