Respiratory metabolism of domestic and wild pigs. Influences of feed intake, motor activity and time of day
Hörnicke, H.
Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 88(10): 411-415
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0341-6593 PMID: 6802627 Document Number: 168642
Continuous recording of gas exchange was used to estimate the energy metabolism of 35 growing domesticated pigs and six wild boar. In domesticated pigs 18% of the time was spent in the standing position, and this increased the metabolic rate by 20-100% over the lying position. The calorie value of the feed had more effect on metabolism than motor activity. Resting metabolism reached its maximum 1-3 hours after feeding with a maximum respiratory quotient 2-3 hours later. Apart from individual variations, maximum activity in domestic pigs was in the evening, with sometimes a second peak in the morning. In wild boar dusk and dawn were the more active periods.