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The aim of this study was to quantify the body surface temperature of suckling piglets, and determine the association between body surface temperature, body weight and growth rate during the suckling period. The study population consisted of 72 piglets from six sows that were randomly selected at day 4 after farrowing. Infrared thermography and weighing were performed every other day from day 4 to 24 of lactation. Thermal images of each piglet were taken at the eye, base of ear, back, and anus using a handheld infrared camera. Body surface temperature was associated with piglet age and growth rate (P < 0.05), but not with body weight. At day 14, the body surface temperature was highest in all regions (P < 0.05), while at day 24 the piglets averaged lower body surface temperatures than at days 4-18 (P < 0.05). The interaction between piglet age and growth rate significantly affected body surface temperature (P < 0.05). The body surface temperature only varied with growth rate in piglets 12 and 14 days old after birth (P < 0.05). In conclusion, infrared thermography might be useful for the detection of body surface temperature that can be used as an indication of growth performance in piglets with health problems. Discipline: Animal industry Additional key words: Birth weight, early diagnosis, sow, weaning weight *Corresponding author: e-mail a0d802u@cc.miyazaki-u.ac.jp Received 6 July 2015; accepted 13 January 2016. Introduction Low piglet weight at weaning is associated with a high mortality rate during growth periods and results in a loss of income for the farmer (Tanaka & Koketsu 2008). Thus, it is important for producers to identify piglets with low growth rates early in the suckling period, in order to provide treatment and prevent mortality. Under field conditions, however, it is difficult to measure piglet body weights daily during the suckling period due to the rapid movements of these animals and large size of the farrowing crate, which make it difficult to pick up the piglets. In addition, the frequent restraint and handling of suckling piglets is both labor-intensive and detrimental to their well-being (Chung et al. 2010). Infrared thermography is a non-invasive technique that permits the recording of body temperature without having touch the animal (Stewart et al. 2008). Body temperature is a fundamental parameter in assessing an animal’s health condition (Chung et al. 2010). Thus, a body surface temperature measured by infrared thermography could be useful for the detection of piglets with retarded growth or disease. In pigs, hypothermia is a major cause of neonatal piglet mortality and predisposes piglets to mortality by

Body Surface Temperature of Suckling Piglets Measured by Infrared Thermography and Its Association with Body Weight Change