Heat stress in pregnant sows: effects on growth performance and carcass composition of the offspring

Climatic environment is one of the main limiting factors of production efficiency in the swine industry especially in tropical countries. The aim of aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of heat exposure during most of gestation on the growth performance and carcass composition of the offspring. A total of 24 mixed parity sows pregnant sows were housed at thermoneutrality (PTN, 18-24 °C, n=12) or in HS conditions (PHS, 28-34 °C, n=12) from the 7th to the 106th day of gestation. At 70 d of age, 48 females from the 24 litters were selected, moved to two climatic chambers and exposed to TN (18-24 °C) or HS (28-34 °C) conditions. Prenatal HS did not impair growth performance. Postnatal HS reduced by 15 and 11% the average daily feed intake and BW gain, respectively. Changes in lean and fat tissue accretion were observed only when pigs were exposed to both the prenatal and postnatal HS