Measurement of ear base temperature as a tool for sow management
Geers, R. | Janssens, S. | Jourquin, J. | Goedseels, V. | Goossens, K. | Ville, H. | Vandoorne, N.
Ear base and rectal temperature of 21 multiparous sows were measured in order to detect estrus for optimal insemination time. A thermistor was implanted in the ear base and wire-connected to a data-acquisition system, allowing time-sampling with a measuring accuracy of 0.1 degrees C. Air temperature in the neighborhood of the sows was measured with the same equipment. Rectal temperature was measured each day in the afternoon with a veterinary thermometer. Following the rectal temperature measurement, a blood sample was taken to determine oestradiol-17 beta content. The combination of the physiological measurement with the observation of the standing reflex of the sows made estrus detection very reliable. A statistically significant rise of ear base (1.1 +/- 0.12 degrees C) and rectal (0.65 +/- 0.3 degrees) temperature was observed two days before estrus. Moreover, when relating variation in ear base temperature to environmental temperature, estrus detection and environmental temperature control may be improved. These results offer new possibilities for introduction of injectable electronic identification and monitoring systems for sow management.
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