The effect of cooling the forrowing cage floor on production performance of lactation sows in the summer was evaluated. Forty-two sows from to the 1st to the 5th parturition were allotted to a completely randomized block experimental design with three treatments and 14 repetitions, considering each animal an experimental unit. The treatments were the following: floor not cooled and free intake; floor cooled and 5.5 kg/day of intake; floor cooled and free intake. The sows maintained in cage with cooled floor and fed ad libitum showed greater feed intake, metabolizable energy and digestible lysine. Mobilization of body reserves were greater in sows kept on the cooled floor and receiving restricted food, and they also presented longer interval between weaning and estrus. Piglets of sows kept on cooled floor showed greater weight at weaning and daily weight gain. Lactating sows kept on the cooled floor presented lower values for respiratory frequency, rectal temperature and superficial temperatures of nape, ham and breast. Cooling the farrowing cage floor favors the dissipation of body heat, improving thermal condition, the capacity of feed intake and the productive performance of lactating sows in the summer.
animal production; bioclimatology; lactating sow; performance; pig breeding
