Authors: Brown, S.N.; Knowles, T.G.; Wilkins, L.J.; Pope, S.J.; Kettlewell, P.J.; Chadd, S.A.; Warriss, P.D.

Source: Animal Welfare, Volume 16, Number 3, August 2007 , pp. 331-334(4)

Publisher: Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Abstract:

This study investigated the temperature of pigs' blood as it flowed from the sticking wound at exsanguination using infra-red thermometry and how it might reflect changes in core body temperature. A total of 417 pigs were monitored over a three-day period, which included a subset of 206 pigs for which additional information concerning transport conditions and ambient temperature was also known. The range of blood temperatures recorded was large (35.6-43.2°C) with a significant number of the animals found to have blood temperatures above the pigs' normal temperature (39 ± 1°C). Within the subset of pigs, average blood temperature of all the pigs in a pen at slaughter appeared to be related to pen temperatures and position on the lorry and was sensitive enough to detect changes in environmental ambient conditions.

Keywords: ANIMAL WELFARE; BLOOD TEMPERATURE; CORE TEMPERATURE; ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS; PIGS; TRANSPORT

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2007-08-01

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• By this author: Brown, S.N. ;  Knowles, T.G. ;  Wilkins, L.J. ;  Pope, S.J. ;  Kettlewell, P.J. ;  Chadd, S.A. ;  Warriss, P.D.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers