Effects of in utero heat stress on postnatal body composition in pigs: I. Growing phase

Environmentally induced heat stress (HS) negatively influences production variables in agriculturally important species. However, the extent to which HS experienced in utero affects nutrient partitioning during the rapid lean tissue accretion phase of postnatal growth is unknown. Study objectives were to compare future whole-body tissue accretion rates in pigs exposed to differing in utero and postnatal thermal environments when lean tissue deposition is likely maximized. Pregnant sows were exposed to thermoneutral (TN; cyclical 15°C nighttime and 22°C daytime; n = 9) or HS (cyclical 27°C nighttime and 37°C daytime; n = 12) conditions during their entire gestation. Twenty-four offspring from in utero TN (IUTN; n = 6 gilts and 6 barrows; 30.8 ± 0.2 kg BW) and in utero HS (IUHS; n = 6 gilts and 6 barrows; 30.3 ± 0.2 kg BW) were euthanized as an initial slaughter group (ISG). Following the ISG, 48 pigs from IUTN (n = 12 gilts and 12 barrows; 34.1 ± 0.5 kg BW) and IUHS (n = 12 gilts and 12 barrows; 33.3 ± 0.3 kg BW) were exposed to constant HS (34.1 ± 2.4°C) or TN (21.5 ± 2.0°C) conditions until they reached 61.5 ± 0.8 kg BW, at which point they were sacrificed and their whole-body composition was determined. Homogenized carcasses were analyzed for N, crude fat, ash, water, and GE content. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS 9.3. Rectal temperature and respiration rate increased (P < 0.01) during postnatal HS compared to TN (39.4 vs. 39.0°C and 94 vs. 49 breaths per minute, respectively). Regardless of in utero environment, postnatal HS reduced (P < 0.01) feed intake (2.06 vs. 2.37 kg/d) and ADG (0.86 vs. 0.98 kg/d) compared to TN conditions. Postnatal HS did not alter water, protein, and ash accretion rates but reduced lipid accretion rates (198 vs. 232 g/d; P < 0.04) compared to TN-reared pigs. In utero environment had no effect on future tissue deposition rates; however, IUHS pigs from the ISG had reduced liver weight (P < 0.04; 17.9%) compared to IUTN controls. In summary, postnatal HS reduced adipose tissue accretion rates, but IUHS did not appear to impact either lean or adipose tissue accretion during this specific growth phase.