Abstract
We studied the effects of heat waves (HW), defined as three consecutive days with an ambient temperature ≥ 25 °C and a temperature and humidity index (THI) > 74, on the reproductive performance of sows. Meteorological data were obtained from the National Institute of Meteorology and reproductive data from a commercial farm with 51,578 inseminations and 49,103 pregnancies from September 5, 2013, to July 12, 2019. Sows were divided into the following groups according to the parity order: group 1 (sows that did not experience HW on the day of insemination) and group 2 (sows exposed to HW on the day of insemination). The percentage of days that pregnant sows were exposed to HW was calculated as 0 to 25% (1), 26 to 50% (2), 51 to 75% (3), and > 75% (4). Out of a total of 2137 days, there were 160 HW and more than 10 HW per month, except in May, June, and July. Gilts in group 2 showed a decrease in the percentage of gestation (98.21% and 98.78%, respectively, P = 0.0267) and the percentage of births compared with those in group 1 (95.53% and 96.61, respectively, P = 0.0065). Primiparous sows in group 2 had a higher percentage of abortions than gilts in group 1 (3.20% and 2.42%, respectively; P = 0.0334). Sows exposed to more than 50% HW during gestation produced more mummified piglets than sows exposed to less than 50% HW. The number of stillborn piglets was higher in sows exposed to temperatures above 25% HW during gestation. The occurrence of heat waves in gilts and primiparous sows impairs reproductive performance.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alvares CA, Stape JL, Sentelhas PC, Gonçalves JLM, Sparovek G (2013) Koppen’s climate classification map for Brazil. Meteorol Z 22:711–728. https://doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2013/0507
Amavizca-Nazar A, Montalvo-Corral M, González-Rios H, Pinelli-Saavedra A (2019) Hot environment on reproductive performance, immunoglobulins, vitamin E, and vitamin A status in sows and their progeny under commercial husbandry. J Anim Sci Technol 61(6):340–351. https://doi.org/10.5187/jast.2019.61.6.340
Auvigne V, Leneveu P, Jehannin C, Peltoniemi O, Salle E (2010) Seasonal infertility in sows: a five year field study to analyze the relative roles of heat stress and photoperiod. Theriogenology 74:60–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.12.019
Bastianelli D, Sauvant D (1997) Modelling the mechanisms of pig growth. Livest Prod Sci 51:97–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-6226(97)00109-7
Berman A, Horovitz T, Kaim M, Gacitua H (2016) A comparison of THI indices leads to sensible heat-based heat stress index for shaded cattle that aligns temperature and humidity stress. Int J Biometeorol 60(10):1453–1462. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-016-1136-9
Bertoldo M, Grupen CG, Thomson PC, Evans G, Holyoake PK (2009) Identification of sow-specific risk factors for late pregnancy loss during the seasonal infertility period in pigs. Theriogenology 72(3):393–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.03.008
Bertoldo M, Holyoake PK, Evans G, Grupen CG (2010) Oocyte developmental competence is reduced in sows during the seasonal infertility period. Reprod Fertil Dev 22(8):1222–1229. https://doi.org/10.1071/RD10093
Bertoldo M, Holyoake PK, Evans G, Grupen CG (2011) Follicular progesterone levels decrease during the period of seasonal infertility in sows. Reprod Domest Anim 46(3):489–494. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2010.01695.x
Bloemhof S, Mathur PK, Knol EF, van der Waaij EH (2013) Effect of daily environmental temperature on farrowing rate and total born in dam line sows. J Anim Sci 91(6):2667–2679. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas2012-5902
Britt JH, Cushman RA, Dechow CD, Dobson H, Humblot P, Hutjens MF, Jones GA, Ruegg PS, Sheldon IM, Stevenson JS (2018) Invited review: learning from the future - a vision for dairy farms and cows in 2067. J Dairy Sci 101(5):3722–3741. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-14025
Chen S, Yong Y, Ju X (2021) Effect of heat stress on growth and production performance of livestock and poultry: mechanism to prevention. J Therm Biol 99:103019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.103019
Edwards RL, Omtvedt IT, Tuesman EJ, Stephens DF, Mahoney GWA (1968) Reproductive performance of gilts following heat stress prior to breeding and in early gestation. J Anim Sci 27(6):1634. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1968.2761634x
Geraghty AC, Kaufer D (2015) Glucocorticoid regulation of reproduction. Adv Exp Med Biol 872:253–278. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2895-8_11
Góes LG, Vilarino FL, Oba E, Bondan EF (2022) Review of the literature on corpus luteum insufficiency in women (2015–2020) and in domestic animals (1980–2020). Clin Invest Ginecol Obstet 49:100724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gine.2021.100724
Iida R, Koketsu Y (2014) Climatic factors associated with peripartum pig deaths during hot and humid or cold seasons. Prev Vet Med 115:166–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2014.03.019
Iida R, Koketsu Y (2016) Lower farrowing rate in female pigs associated with higher outdoor temperatures in humid subtropical and continental climate zones in Japan. Anim Reprod 13(2):63–68. https://doi.org/10.21451/1984-3143-AR728
IPCC-Intergovernamental Panel on Climate Change Climate Change. The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; Cambridge University: Cambridge, UK, 2021; Available online: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_TS.pdf. Accessed 20 July 2022
Jaichansukkit T, Suwanasopee T, Koonawootrittriron S, Tummaruk P, Elzo MA (2017) Effect of daily fluctuations in ambient temperature on reproductive failure traits of Landrace and Yorkshire sows under Thai tropical environmental conditions. Trop Anim Health Prod 49(3):503–508. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1221-z
Koketsu Y, Dial GD, King VL (1997) Influence of various factors on farrowing rate on farms using early weaning. J Anim Sci 75:2580–2587. https://doi.org/10.2527/1997.75102580x
Lacetera N (2019) Impact of climate change on animal health and welfare. Anim Front 9(1):26–31. https://doi.org/10.1093/af/vfy030
Liu F, Zhao W, Le HH, Cottrell JJ, Green MP, Leury BJ, Dunshea FR, Bell AW (2022) Review: what have we learned about the effects of heat stress on the pig industry? Animal 16(2):100349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2021.100349
Love RJ, Evans G, Klupiec C (1993) Seasonal effects on fertility in gilts and sows. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 48:191–206
Lucy MC, Safranski TJ (2017) Heat stress in pregnant sows: thermal responses and subsequent performance of sows and their offspring. Mol Reprod Dev 84(9):946–956. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.22844
Machado ST, Nääs IA, Reis JGM, Caldara FR, Garcia RG (2016) Thermal amplitude impacts pig productivity loss in tropical conditions. ASABE Annual International Meeting. https://doi.org/10.13031/aim.20162465456
Mellado M, Gaytán L, Macías-Cruz U, Avendaño L, Meza-Herrera C, Lozano EA, Mellado J (2018) Effect of climate and insemination technique on reproductive performance of gilts and sows in a subtropical zone of Mexico. Austral J Vet Sci 50(1):27–34. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0719-81322018000100106
Nascimento CCN, Nascimento MRBM, Silva NAM (2014) Ocorrência de ondas de calor no Triângulo Mineiro e Alto Paranaíba e seu efeito na produção leiteira e consumo alimentar em bovinos. Biosci J 30(5):1488–1495
Nteeba J, Sanz-Fernandez MV, Rhoads RP, Baumgard LH, Ross JW, Keating AF (2015) Heat stress alters ovarian insulin mediated phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and steroidogenic signaling in gilt ovaries. Biol Reprod 92(6):148. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.114.126714
Odehnalová S, Vinkler A, Novák P, Drábek J (2008) The dynamics of changes in selected parameters in relation to different air temperature in the farrowing house for sows. Czech J Anim Sci 53(5):195–203. https://doi.org/10.17221/310-cjas
Omtvedt IT, Nelson RE, Edwards RL, Stephens DF, Turman EJ (1971) Influence of heat stress during early, mid and late pregnancy of gilts. J Anim Sci 32(2):312–317. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1971.322312x
Ouellet V, Boucher A, Dahl GE, Laporta J (2021) Consequences of maternal heat stress at different stages of embryonic and fetal development on dairy cows’ progeny. Anim Front 11(6):48–56. https://doi.org/10.1093/af/vfab059
Pennarossa G, Maffei S, Rahman MM, Berruti G, Brevini TA, Gandolfi F (2012) Characterization of the constitutive pig ovary heat shock chaperone machinery and its response to acute thermal stress or to seasonal variations. Biol Reprod 87(5):119. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.112.104018
Quiniou N, Noblet J (1999) Influence of high ambient temperatures on performance of multiparous lactating sows. J Anim Sci 77(8):2124–2134. https://doi.org/10.2527/1999.7782124x
Renaudeau D, Gourdine JL, St-Pierre NR (2011) A meta-analysis of the effects of high ambient temperature on growth performance of growing-finishing pigs. J Anim Sci 89:2220–2230. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2010-3329
Renaudeau D, Collin A, Yahav S, Basilio V, Gourdine JL, Collier RJ (2012) Adaptation to hot climate and strategies to alleviate heat stress in livestock production. Animal 6:707–728. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731111002448
Ribeiro BPVB, Lanferdini E, Palencia JYP, Lemes MAG, Abreu MLT, Cantarelli VS, Ferreira RA (2018) Heat negatively affects lactating swine: a meta-analysis. J Therm Biol 74:325–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.04.015
Roehe R, Kalm E (2000) Estimation of genetic and environmental risk factors associated with pre-weaning mortality in piglets using generalized linear models. Anim Sci 70:227–240. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1357729800054692
Ross JW, Hale BJ, Seibert JT, Romoser MR, Adur MK, Keating AF, Baumgard LH (2017) Physiological mechanisms through which heat stress compromises reproduction in pigs. Mol Reprod Dev 84(9):934–945. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.22859
Schenkel AC, Bernardi ML, Bortolozzo FP, Wentz I (2010) Body reserve mobilization during lactation in first parity sows and its effect on second litter size. Livest Sci 132(1–3):165–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2010.06.002
Tummaruk P, Lundeheim N, Einarsson S, Dalin AM (2001) Effect of birth litter size, birth parity number, growth rate, backfat thickness and age at first mating of gilts on their reproductive performance as sows. Anim Reprod Sci 66:225–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-4320(01)00095-1
Tummaruk P, Tantasuparuk W, Techakumphu M, Kunavongkrit A (2010) Influence of repeat-service and weaning-to-first-service interval on farrowing proportion of gilts and sows. Prev Vet Med 96:194–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2010.06.003
Tummaruk P, Tantasuparuk W, Techakumphu M, Kunavongkrit A (2010) Seasonal influences on the litter size at birth of pigs are more pronounced in the gilt than sow litters. J Agric Sci 148(04):421–432. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0021859610000110
Wegner K, Lambertz C, Das G, Reiner G, Gauly M (2016) Effects of temperature and temperature humidity index on the reproductive performance of sows during summer months under a temperate climate. Anim Sci J 87:1334–1339. https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.12569
Williams AM, Safranski TJ, Spiers DE, Eichen PA, Coate EA, Lucy MC (2013) Effects of a controlled heat stress during late gestation, lactation, and after weaning on thermoregulation, metabolism, and reproduction of primiparous sows. J Anim Sci 91:2700–2714. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2012-6
Yadav R, Yadav P, Singh G, Kumar S, Dutt R, Pandey A (2021) Non-infectious causes of abortion in livestock animals - a review. Int J Livest Res 11(2):1–13. https://doi.org/10.5455/ijlr.20201031015650
Yang JG, Chen WY, Li PS (1999) Effects of glucocorticoids on maturation of pig oocytes and their subsequent fertilizing capacity in vitro. Biol Reprod 60:929–936. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod60.4.929
Zhao W, Liu F, Bell AW, Le HH, Cottrell JJ, Leury BJ, Green MP, Dunshea FR (2020). Controlled elevated temperatures during early-mid gestation cause placental insufficiency and implications for fetal growth in pregnant pigs. Scientific Reports 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77647-1
Funding
This study was partly financed by the Improvement Coordination of Higher Education Personnel – Brazil (CAPES) (Finance Code 001).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Brito, A.A., da Silva, N.A.M., Alvarenga Dias, A.L.N. et al. Heat wave exposure impairs reproductive performance in primiparous sows and gilts in a tropical environment. Int J Biometeorol 66, 2417–2424 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-022-02365-4
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-022-02365-4