Application of infrared thermography to measure body temperature of sows

The aim of the present study was to analyse the application of infrared thermography to measure body temperature of sows. In an experimental study, the body surface temperature of 42 sows in the farrowing compartment was recorded at the eye, the teats, the ear and the vulva two times a day. Contemporaneously measured rectal temperature was used as a reference. The maximum temperature was the best parameter to describe the body surface temperature in the 2,834 thermograms. Healthy and disease days showed significant different temperature curves within the observation period. Furthermore, the relationship to rectal temperature was not linear for all localisations, in particular ear and teats showed a linear quadratic relationship. Highest residual correlations up to 0.5 were found between teats or vulva and rectal temperature, respectively. Infrared thermography provides the opportunity to collect regular body surface temperatures that can be used for early disease detection.