Effects of In-utero Heat Stress on Porcine Post-natal Thermoregulation

Pigs were exposed to heat stress (HS) and thermoneutral (TN) conditions in-utero. Post-natally, they were exposed to either TN or HS environments for 15 days, and differences in physiological response comparing inutero treatment groups were determined. Our results indicated that gestational HS (GHS) pigs had increased core body temperature during post-natal HS compared to pigs exposed to gestational TN (GTN); however, there were no production differences between gestational groups. This provides evidence suggesting pigs exposed to in-utero HS may have an increased tolerance to post-natal HS, at least from a productivity standpoint.