Change in Oxygen Consumption of the New-Born Pig with a Fall in Environmental Temperature

Abstract

THE oxygen consumption of the new-born pig during the first day of life increases¹ to the extent of approximately 1 ml. oxygen/kgm.min. per 1°C. fall in environmental temperature over the range 38–20° C. The mean level of oxygen consumption rises between the first and second days, and the inverse relation between metabolism and temperature is maintained². It is therefore of interest that Holub, For man and Ježková have reported³ the absence of an increase in the metabolism of pigs from three to six days of age when the environmental temperature is lowered from 23° to 3° C. Observations have now been made on an experimental pattern similar to that adopted by those authors on pigs from birth to six days of age. The results obtained fail to confirm those of Holub et al.; indeed, there was a marked rise in oxygen consumption in every case when the temperature of the surroundings fell from near 23° C. to approximately 3°C.