Body Temperatures of Farrowing Swine

Abstract

Summary The body temperature of 12 mixed-breed female swine (7 first-litter gilts and 5 second- or third-litter sows) was monitored from approximately 1 week prior to farrowing until approximately 3 weeks after farrowing, using radiotelemetry. Daytime values did not differ from nighttime values. The mean prefarrowing value was 38.3 ± 0.3 C. Postfarrowing values were higher than prefarrowing values for every sow. Body temperature began to increase at a mean of 13 ± 4.1 hours prior to the birth of the first pig in each farrowing. The 95% confidence interval for mean postfarrowing value minus mean prefarrowing value was between 0.6 C and 1.2 C. In every situation wherein it was possible to wean the pigs while still monitoring the sow's temperature, the temperature returned to the mean prefarrowing value within 24 hours. Temperatures of animals during December, January, and February did not differ from temperatures of animals farrowing during June, July, and August. Five of the sows were induced to farrow with a single intramuscular injection (15 mg) of prostaglandin F 2α on day 111 of their gestations. Periparturient temperatures of those sows were not different from those of sows farrowing naturally, with the exception of a transient postinjection rise. The sows farrowed at a mean of 32.6 ± 14.7 hours after administration of the prostaglandin.