Environmental temperature, space allowance, and regrouping: Additive effects of multiple concurrent stressors in growing pigs-

Summary Objective: To determine the effects of multiple concurrent stressors on hematologic and behavioral measurements in growing pigs. Materials and methods: Two hundred and fifty-six growing pigs (Yorkshire · Hampshire or purebred Duroc barrows and gilts, initial body weight 34.7 ± 0.5 kg) were used in a randomized block design with a 2 · 2 · 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to determine effects on hematologic and behavioral measures of environmental temperature (constant-thermoneutral at 24˚C or cycling-high from 28˚C to 34˚C), space allowance (0.56 or 0.25 m 2 per pig), and regrouping (static, ie, not regrouped, or ture treatment were less active than those on the constant-thermoneutral treatment. Standing activity was higher and lying activity was lower as number of stressors increased (P < .05). Implications: The three stressors tested in this study influenced hematological and behavioral measurements indicative of stress in growing pigs, and some of these effects were additive.