Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Animal Science and Zoology
3
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Ear Back Surface Temperature of Pigs as an Indicator of Comfort: Spatial Variability and Its Thermal Implications Taize Calvacante Santana, Cristiane Guiselini, Héliton Pandorfi, Ricardo Brauer Vigoderis, José Antônio Delfino Barbosa Filho, et al. Agriengineering, 2025 This study applied geostatistics to analyze thermal images of the back surface of pigs’ ears (TSO) to understand how spatial temperature variability influences thermoregulation. The objective was to assess TSO variability in pigs housed under two climate control systems, namely, pens without cooling (BTEST) and with an evaporative cooling system (BECS), using infrared thermography and geostatistical tools. A total of 432 thermal images were obtained from 18 finishing pigs at 08:00, 12:00, and 16:00. Semivariograms were modeled and validated, and kriging maps were developed to visualize the spatial temperature distribution. The pens were thermally characterized using reclassified Temperature and Humidity Index (THI) values. The Gaussian model (R2 > 0.9) showed strong spatial dependence in temperature data. Pigs in the BECS system exhibited lower average TSO temperatures (28.2–38.6 °C) than those in the BTEST system, where temperatures exceeded 34 °C, highlighting the role of cooling in mitigating heat stress. In both systems, higher THI values were associated with increased TSO, indicating thermal discomfort under elevated environmental temperatures. Geostatistical analysis effectively revealed spatial patterns and variability in surface temperatures, providing key insights into how environmental conditions impact pigs’ thermal responses.
Pre-slaughter management in Northeast Brazil and the effects on thermophysiological indicators in pigs and pH45 1 Kilvia K. de S. V. Melo, Nítalo A. F. Machado, José A. D. Barbosa Filho, Maria S. M. Peixoto, Ana P. C. de Andrade, et al. Revista Brasileira De Engenharia Agricola E Ambiental, 2023 Inadequate pre-slaughter handling practices may compromise animal welfare and pork quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of transport period (TT), unloading period (UT), and pre-slaughtering period (WT) on animal thermophysiological indicators and pork pH using a multivariate approach. This study was conducted in a slaughterhouse located in Aquiraz, Ceará state, Brazil. A total of 60 mestizo pigs with 107 ± 5 kg body weight were distributed into three experimental groups: group A (TT = 180 min, UT ≤ 10 min, and WT = 24 hours), group B (TT = 60 min, UT ≤ 15 min, and WT = 18 hours), and group C (TT = 45 min, UT ≤ 5 min, and WT = 24 hours). Canonical discriminant analysis was implemented and the differences between treatments are represented graphically. The first two components accounted for 97% treatments. The discriminant analysis showed that group C presented multivariate differences in relation to others, particularly with high rectal temperature before slaughter (38.4 ± 0.23 °C) and respiratory rate (131 ± 7.0 breaths min-1) and rectal temperature (39.7 ± 0.18 °C) upon arrival at the slaughterhouse. Transport period (TT), unloading period (UT), and thermal stress of the facilities influenced physiological variables, such as rectal temperature and respiratory rate. Furthermore, the physiological stress variables also favored cuts with basic pH, resulting in quality loss.
