The effect of duration and temperature of simulated transport on the performance of early-weaned piglets

Abstract

The responses and tolerances of early-weaned piglets to transport are not well documented. It is believed that the additive stress incurred by transporting early-weaned pigs predisposes them to increased disease risk and compromised performance. The objective of this work was to investigate the relationship between two primary transportation stressors, duration and temperature, and their effects on piglet performance. Prior to housing on flatdecks at 30°C, transport was simulated by placing 17-d (± 1 d) old weaned piglets into wooden boxes of dimensions 1.2 × 1.2 × 1 m (space allowance range 0.18 to 0.36 m2 pig–1) with straw bedding. Two trials were conducted. In each trial, 96 piglets were randomly mixed in groups of four and assigned to the following simulated transport durations: no transport (control), 6 h, 12 h (Trial 2 only) and 24 h. Piglets undergoing transport simulation were kept at one of the following temperatures 20, 25 (Trial 1 only), 30 and 35°C. There was a significant interactive effect between transport duration and temperature upon liveweight change in the first 24 h in both trials (P < 0.01). The animals that incurred the greatest liveweight deficit after weaning relative to untransported control groups were predominantly either those that had been transported for 24 h at high transport temperatures (35 and 30°C) or those transported for 6 h at 20°C in Trial 1 and 35°C in Trial 2. The effect of simulated transport was measureable for up to 5 d post-transport. However, by 14 d post-transport there was no detectable influence of transport treatment on feed consumption or weight gain (P > 0.05). The study found piglets are able to recover and perform adequately in the early post-weaning period if extremes of transport duration and temperature are avoided. Key words: Transportation, early weaning, temperature, piglets