THE USE OF FANS IN BOAR HOUSING UNDER TROPICAL CONDITION

摘要

Heat stress besides affecting the general performance may induce the increase in plasma corticosteroids, affecting immunity and interacting negatively in the nutrients absorption for swine. This negative effect is shown by both and when studying finishing hogs exposed to 43癈. Reproductive functions are highly affected when environmental temperature values depart from the thermoneutral zone. Heat stress in boars leads to decrease in semen production as well as in semen quality. The excess of heat leads to the testicles weight decrease reducing the total volume of semen and affecting its concentration and motility. In Brazil the most common heat exposition is near the thermoneutral zone upper limit around 28-30 deg C, and chronic exposition to this temperature occurs mainly during Summer months. The use of cooling devices such as fans associated to fogging reduce the risk of heat stress, as pointed out by. The objective of this research was to determine the benefit of the use of fans inside the boar housing.