Changes in food intake in response to alterations in the ambient temperature: Modifications by previous thermal and nutritional experience

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Abstract
The influence of ambient temperature onad libitum food intake has been investigated in piglets weaned at 2 weeks and kept in the hot (35°C) or the cold (10°C) on a high or low energy intake for 6 weeks. Further, the extent to which food intake was correlated with fasting body temperatures and resting metabolic rate was also examined. The amount of food eaten in a single meal was recorded daily in two series of tests. In Test I, measurements were made both at the normal living temperature and after 2 and 24 h at thermal neutrality (25°C). In Test II, the animals were examined at 25°C over a 4 day period. Resting metabolic rate and body temperatures were also measured, immediately before the measurement of food intake. Food intake was much greater at 10 than at 35°C, but even at thermal neutrality it was significantly higher for those which had been in the cold. This was true for periods of between 2 h and 4 days at 25°C. Although food intake was not correlated with skin or core temperatures, there was an indication of a correlation with metabolic rate, particularly at thermal neutrality. The results show that long-term cold exposure has a lasting effect on food intake, event at thermal neutrality, and it is suggested that this may be related to hormonal changes.