RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BODY TEMPERATURE AND COPING STYLE IN POST-WEANED PIGLETS

The aim of this study was to investigate in post-weaned piglets the relationship between the reactivity to the Backtest (BT) and the body temperature during a restrain stress occurred at weighing. On the basis of the BT carried out at 10 and 17 days of age, 96 “high-resisters” (HR) and 96 “low-resisters” (LR) piglets were identified. At the post-weaning 4 groups of 48 subjects balanced for BT were examined. Each group was allocated in 12 post-weaned boxes, 4 with only HR piglets, 4 with only LR piglets and 4 mixed (2 LR and 2 HR piglets). During the weighing occurred at 36, 44 and 52 d of age, dorsal and ventral Infrared Thermography (IRT) images for each piglet were taken. At the same time, rectal temperature was recorded and room Thermal-Humidity Index (THI) was calculated. The type of box (only HR, only LR and mixed) affected significatively the rectal temperature which was higher for HR boxes (P<0.05). There was not a significant effect of BT reactivity on skin and rectal temperatures. Skin temperatures on dorsal and ventral positions were significantly influenced by THI and live weight, respectively