Abstract：
BACKGROUND: This study explores the possibility of using infrared thermography to estimate the onset of parturition in sows. Infrared camera (IRC) and infrared laser thermometer (IRT) were used to obtain the auricular skin temperature of sows along with rectal temperatures, from approximately one week before the anticipated farrowing until 24 h post-partum. Three commercial piglet producing farms were included in the study.
RESULTS: There were large variations in observed auricular skin temperature, both by IRC and IRT per time point. Graphical exploration of the observed auricular skin temperature measured by the two methods showed the same parallel patterns, although temperatures measured by IRC were higher at any time point compared to IRT. Auricular skin thermography revealed a clear increase in temperatures before farrowing. Statistical analyses, adjusting for differences between farms, sow activity and respiration rate, confirmed this increase. When controlling for these variables, and comparing the baseline temperatures to temperatures at farrowing, the difference was 3.9 and 4.1 °C measured with IRT and IRC, respectively. The greatest increase, of more than 2 °C, was found between 16 and 8 h and 8 to 4 h before farrowing. Rectal temperature increased by 0.5 °C in the same time interval and reached a temperature peak after farrowing.
CONCLUSIONS: Sows showed a more than 2 °C increase in auricular skin temperature, measured by either IRC or IRT, 8 to16 hours before the first piglet was born. Hence, monitoring auricular skin temperatures of sows using infrared thermography one week before expected farrowing may provide a baseline temperature for each sow from which a sudden rise is indicative of parturition in the following 8 to 16 h. This may lead to more efficient allocation of human assistance during farrowing time and thereby improve farrowing management and the welfare of sows and their offspring.
RESULTS: There were large variations in observed auricular skin temperature, both by IRC and IRT per time point. Graphical exploration of the observed auricular skin temperature measured by the two methods showed the same parallel patterns, although temperatures measured by IRC were higher at any time point compared to IRT. Auricular skin thermography revealed a clear increase in temperatures before farrowing. Statistical analyses, adjusting for differences between farms, sow activity and respiration rate, confirmed this increase. When controlling for these variables, and comparing the baseline temperatures to temperatures at farrowing, the difference was 3.9 and 4.1 °C measured with IRT and IRC, respectively. The greatest increase, of more than 2 °C, was found between 16 and 8 h and 8 to 4 h before farrowing. Rectal temperature increased by 0.5 °C in the same time interval and reached a temperature peak after farrowing.
CONCLUSIONS: Sows showed a more than 2 °C increase in auricular skin temperature, measured by either IRC or IRT, 8 to16 hours before the first piglet was born. Hence, monitoring auricular skin temperatures of sows using infrared thermography one week before expected farrowing may provide a baseline temperature for each sow from which a sudden rise is indicative of parturition in the following 8 to 16 h. This may lead to more efficient allocation of human assistance during farrowing time and thereby improve farrowing management and the welfare of sows and their offspring.
摘要：
背景：这项研究探索了使用红外热成像技术估算母猪分娩开始的可能性。使用红外摄像机（IRC）和红外激光温度计（IRT）来获取母猪的耳廓皮肤温度以及直肠温度，从预期分娩前大约一周到产后24小时。该研究包括三个商业仔猪生产农场。
结果：观察到的耳廓皮肤温度有很大变化，每个时间点的IRC和IRT。通过两种方法测量的观察到的耳廓皮肤温度的图形探索显示出相同的平行模式，尽管与IRT相比，IRC测量的温度在任何时间点都较高。耳廓皮肤热成像显示分娩前温度明显升高。统计分析，调整农场之间的差异，母猪活动和呼吸速率，证实了这一增长。当控制这些变量时，将基线温度与分娩时的温度进行比较，用IRT和IRC测得的差异为3.9和4.1°C，分别。最大的增长，超过2°C，在分娩前16至8小时和8至4小时之间发现。在相同的时间间隔内，直肠温度升高了0.5°C，分娩后达到温度峰值。
结论：母猪耳廓皮肤温度升高超过2°C，由IRC或IRT测量，第一只小猪出生前8到16小时。因此，在预期分娩前一周使用红外热成像技术监测母猪的耳廓皮肤温度可以为每只母猪提供基线温度，从基线温度突然升高表明在接下来的8到16小时内分娩。这可能会导致在分娩期间更有效地分配人类援助，从而改善分娩管理和母猪及其后代的福利。
结果：观察到的耳廓皮肤温度有很大变化，每个时间点的IRC和IRT。通过两种方法测量的观察到的耳廓皮肤温度的图形探索显示出相同的平行模式，尽管与IRT相比，IRC测量的温度在任何时间点都较高。耳廓皮肤热成像显示分娩前温度明显升高。统计分析，调整农场之间的差异，母猪活动和呼吸速率，证实了这一增长。当控制这些变量时，将基线温度与分娩时的温度进行比较，用IRT和IRC测得的差异为3.9和4.1°C，分别。最大的增长，超过2°C，在分娩前16至8小时和8至4小时之间发现。在相同的时间间隔内，直肠温度升高了0.5°C，分娩后达到温度峰值。
结论：母猪耳廓皮肤温度升高超过2°C，由IRC或IRT测量，第一只小猪出生前8到16小时。因此，在预期分娩前一周使用红外热成像技术监测母猪的耳廓皮肤温度可以为每只母猪提供基线温度，从基线温度突然升高表明在接下来的8到16小时内分娩。这可能会导致在分娩期间更有效地分配人类援助，从而改善分娩管理和母猪及其后代的福利。
