| | Parity 1 and 2 | Parity 3+ | SEM | P-valuesb |
|---|
Betaine, % | Betaine | Parity group | Interaction |
|---|
Item | 0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0.2 | | | | |
|---|
Summer (Exp. 1)c |
Lactation |
Rectal temperature, °C | 39.54 | 39.44 | 39.56 | 39.56 | 0.127 | 0.693 | 0.597 | 0.718 |
Respiration rated | 65.77 | 62.58 | 81.90 | 74.89 | 8.684 | 0.562 | 0.110 | 0.827 |
Post-insemination |
Rectal temperature, °C | 38.53 | 38.49 | 38.46 | 38.53 | 0.076 | 0.825 | 0.851 | 0.470 |
Respiration rated | 22.00 | 18.58 | 13.20 | 12.33 | 2.031 | 0.399 | 0.005 | 0.614 |
Non-summer (Exp.2)e |
Lactation |
Rectal temperature, °C | 39.41 | 39.43 | 39.19 | 39.25 | 0.138 | 0.772 | 0.154 | 0.889 |
Respiration rated | 76.25 | 66.80 | 67.47 | 76.24 | 5.636 | 0.952 | 0.954 | 0.112 |
Post-insemination |
Rectal temperature, °C | 38.51 | 38.44 | 38.48 | 38.66 | 0.134 | 0.676 | 0.481 | 0.325 |
Respiration rated | 20.13 | 23.09 | 20.88 | 18.25 | 1.882 | 0.013 | < 0.001 | 0.247 |
- aFor the lactation period, measurements were taken on day 18 of lactation between 16:00 and 18:00 h. For the post-insemination period, measurements were taken on day 12 post-insemination between 16:00 and 18:00 h
- bThe statistical analysis tested for main effects of dietary betaine, parity group, and their interaction. Sow was used as random effect
- cEach value represents the least squares mean of 11 sows (44 sows total). For the lactation period, the average temperature, humidity, and heat index of the farrowing room were 28.1 °C (range of 27.3 to 28.7 °C), 72.9% (range of 68.3% to 77.4%) and 31.2 °C (range of 30.0 to 32.5 °C), respectively. Sows were above an environmental temperature and heat index of 26 °C for 100% of the time when measurements were taken. During the post-weaning period, environmental temperature, humidity, and heat index were 27.2 °C (range of 24.2 to 29.2 °C), 63.4% (range of 53.7% to 75%), and 28.7 °C (range of 25.1 to 31.2 °C), respectively. Sows experienced an environmental temperature and heat index over 26 °C for 91.3% and 94.5% of the time
- dRespiration rate was measured as the number of flank movements per min
- eEach value represents the least squares mean of 16 sows (64 sows total). For the lactation period, average temperature, humidity, and heat index of the farrowing room were 26.8 °C (range of 22.8 to 29.7 °C), 61.8% (range of 47.2% to 78.4%), and 28.2 °C (range of 24.4 to 32.7 °C), respectively. Sows were above an environmental temperature and heat index of 26 °C for 72.0% and 83.7% of the time. During the post-weaning period, the average temperature, humidity, and heat index of the breeding barn were 24.6 °C (range of 22.9 to 27.2 °C), 67.7% (range of 49.7% to 79.8%), and 26.0 °C (range of 23.8 to 29.4 °C). Sows experience environmental temperatures and a heat index of over 26 °C for 22.2% and 38.9% of the time, respectively
