Use of thermography in pigs: relationship between surface and core temperature

Authors

  • Sara Barbieri Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
  • Zita Talamonti Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Università di Bologna, Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna, Italy
  • Eleonora Nannoni Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
  • Eugenio Ugo Luigi Heinzl Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
  • Michela Minero Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
  • Elisabetta Canali Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1077.5873.2

Keywords:

Animal welfare, Body temperature, Health status, Infrared thermography, Swine

Abstract

This study aims to assess the correlation between surface temperature estimated by infrared thermography and core temperature measured with rectal thermometer in weaning and fattening pigs. A total of 108 pigs were used in this study. Thermal images of the eye of each animal were recorded with a thermal imaging camera, rectal temperatures were measured using a calibrated digital thermometer. The average rectal temperature was 38.9 ± 0.4 °C (MIN = 37.9 °C; MAX = 40.1 °C) and the average eye temperature was 36.7 ± 0.1 °C (MIN = 34.8 °C; MAX = 38.8 °C). Our results showed that the mean eye temperature estimated by infrared thermography was significantly correlated (r = .581, P < .01) with rectal temperature. The correlation was significant and strong for weaners (r = .739, P < .01), significant although weak for fatteners (r = .236 P < .05). Thermography could be a valid method to estimate the core temperature of pigs under farm condition.

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Additional Files

Published

2021-05-11

How to Cite

Barbieri, S., Talamonti, Z., Nannoni, E., Heinzl, E. U. L., Minero, M., & Canali, E. (2021). Use of thermography in pigs: relationship between surface and core temperature. Veterinaria Italiana, 57(1), 79–82. https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1077.5873.2

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