title: Effect of supplemental heat on mortality rate, growth performance, and blood biochemical profiles of Ghungroo piglets in Indian sub-tropical climate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was conducted to explore the effect of supplemental heat on mortality rate, growth performance, and blood biochemical profiles of indigenous Ghungroo piglets in sub-tropical cold and humid climatic conditions of Tripura, a state of the north eastern hill (NEH) region of India.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiment was conducted on 38 indigenous Ghungroo piglets from birth up to 60 days of age. Among the 38 piglets, 19 piglets were provided with supplemental heat ranging between 17.0°C and 21.1°C for the period of the first 30 days and thereafter between 24.1°C and 29.9°C for the next 30 days. The other 19 piglets were exposed to natural environmental minimum temperatures ranging between 7.2°C and 15.0°C during the first 30 days and then between 18.5°C and 25.5°C for the next 30 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The supplemental heat resulted in 10.6% reduction of piglet mortality from the 2(nd) till the 7(th) day of age. These beneficial effects could be related with the lower (p<0.05) plasma glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and cortisol levels and higher (p<0.05) plasma alkaline phosphatase (AP) concentrations in heat supplemented group compared to control group. Plasma AP, GPT, glucose, triiodothyronine, and luteinizing hormone concentrations decreased (p<0.05) gradually with the advancement of age in both control and supplemental heat treated piglets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplemental heat could be beneficial since it is related to a reduction of piglet mortality during the first week of life under farm management system in the sub-tropical climate of NEH region of India.
authors.affiliation: Animal Reproduction Division, ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Tripura Centre, Agartala, Lembucherra, West Tripura, India.
authors.forename: Hemanta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.affiliation: Animal Reproduction Division, ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Tripura Centre, Agartala, Lembucherra, West Tripura, India.
authors.forename: Mousumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hazorika
authors.affiliation: ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Barapani, Umiam, Meghalaya, India.
authors.forename: Dipjyoti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rajkhowa
authors.affiliation: Animal Reproduction Division, ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Tripura Centre, Agartala, Lembucherra, West Tripura, India.
authors.forename: Mrinmoy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Datta
authors.affiliation: Animal Reproduction Division, ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Tripura Centre, Agartala, Lembucherra, West Tripura, India.
authors.forename: Avijit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haldar
keywords: Ghungroo piglets; biochemical profiles; growth; mortality rate; neonatal; supplemental heat