In utero heat stress increases postnatal core body temperature in pigs1,2 (original) (raw)

2015, Journal of Animal Science

Although advances in technology (i.e., cooling systems and management practices) have partially ameliorated the negative effects of heat stress (HS), growth performance continues to be reduced while morbidity and mortality are increased in almost all agriculturally important species during the warm summer months (Collin et al., 2001; Brown-Brandl et al., 2004; Baumgard and Rhoads, 2013). Further, genetic selection for traditional production traits (i.e., enhanced lean tissue accretion) compromises HS tolerance as synthesizing and maintaining muscle generates increased metabolic heat (Brown-Brandl et al., 2001). Consequently, HS is one of the primary factors limiting profitable animal protein production, and if the frequency of severe hot weather increases as predicted (McGeehin and Mirabelli, 2001), the sustainability of some animal industries may be regionally threatened. Although primarily an economic concern in most countries, HS and future climate change are food security and humanitarian issues in some developing nations (Baumgard and Rhoads, 2013). Although in utero HS (iuHS) negatively impacts fetal development and can be teratogenic (Graham et in utero heat stress increases postnatal core body temperature in pigs 1,2