ENERGETICS OF SEGREGATED EARLY WEANED PIGS

The energetics of early weaned (13 to 16 days old) pigs were examined under four temperature regimes. The pigs, in groups of 10 (0.28 m(2)/p ig), were housed in the indirect calorimeter chambers at initial air t emperatures of 31.1, 28.9, 26.7, or 24.4 degrees C which then were dec reased by 1.1 degrees C per week for the three weeks of the post-weani ng period. The feed efficiency and average daily gain during the three -week trial for the four temperature regimes were 1.30, 360 g/day; 1.3 3, 380 g/day; 1.38, 370 g/day; and 1.27, 370 g/day, respectively. Over all feed efficiency was significantly lower (P < 0.05) for the coolest and warmest treatments. Average daily gain was not significantly diff erent for any of the treatments (P > 0.05). The average moisture produ ction for the four treatments was. 4.85, 4.26, 4.13, and 3.85 g H2O/kg -h, respectively The total hear production and sensible heat loss were . 5.53, 2.21; 5.66, 2.71; 5.83, 3.01; and 5.87, 3.22 W/kg, respectivel y Respiratory quotient averaged 0.95 to 0.96 for all regimes. All aver age energetic responses, except respiratory quotient, had significant differences among treatments (P < 0.05). Energetic responses of this s tudy were substantially higher than data currently used by the ASAE St andard for swine nursery design.