Performance and physiological data from 100 crossbred female piglets, 50 maintained in a termoneuter environment (21.4±1.00°C) and 50 in a high temperature environment (32.0±.88°C), allotted to a randomized blocks design, with five replicates and two animals per experimental unit, fed diets with five levels of digestible energy (3100, 3250, 3400, 3550 and 3700 kcal of dietary ED/kg), were evaluated. The animals which were exposed to the temperature of 32ºC had reduced weight gains and feed, protein and energy intakes. The environment did not influence the feed:gain ratio, the efficiencies of protein and energy utilization, the fast weight/LW ratio, the carcass weight/fast weight ratio and the protein deposition rate. The fat deposition rate increased as the environment temperature increased. The internal organ weights, except for the stomach, decreased and the breathing frequency and rectal temperature increased in the animals maintained under the temperature of 32ºC. The animals maintained at 32ºC showed feed:gain ratio and protein deposition rate similar to animals under termoneutral environment, however had lower feed intake and weight gain.
heat stress; crossbred female piglets; organ weight; termoneutral environment
