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Normal values

Normal Temperature, Heart Rate & Respiratory Rate of Pigs

Updated 5 sources

Reference ranges for the vital signs of the pig from the MSD Veterinary Manual tables, adapted from Dukes' Physiology of Domestic Animals [1][2][3], compared with Virginia Cooperative Extension [4] and the UC Davis California Veterinary Emergency Team [5].

Reference ranges

ParameterPigSource
Rectal temperature38.7–39.8 °C (101.6–103.6 °F)[1]
Resting heart rate70–120 beats/min[2]
Resting respiratory rate32–58 breaths/min[3]

How the references compare

Published reference ranges differ between sources. Each range below is printed as its source gives it; °C values marked * are converted from the source's °F. The respiratory-rate ranges differ markedly between the three references.

ParameterMSD Veterinary Manual [1][2][3]Virginia Cooperative Extension [4]UC Davis CVET [5]
Temperature38.7–39.8 °C (101.6–103.6 °F)100.4–104 °F (38.0–40.0 °C*)101.5–103.5 °F (38.6–39.7 °C*)
Heart rate (beats/min)70–12060–10070–120
Respiratory rate (breaths/min)32–588–1830–50

Measuring

  • Temperature: a veterinary thermometer in the rectum, removed after 2 to 3 minutes or after the interval recommended by the manufacturer [4].
  • Pulse: in swine, the heart must be palpated directly to feel a pulse [4].
  • Respiration: count flank movements or breaths at the nostrils for one minute at rest [4]; respiration rate is influenced by stress, exercise, temperature and other factors [4].

Frequently asked questions

What is the normal temperature of a pig?

The MSD Veterinary Manual table gives 38.7–39.8 °C (101.6–103.6 °F) [1]; Virginia Cooperative Extension gives 100.4–104 °F [4].

What is a normal heart rate for a pig?

70–120 beats per minute in the MSD table [2] and the UC Davis chart [5]; 60–100 in Virginia Cooperative Extension [4].

What is the normal respiratory rate of a pig?

The references differ: 32–58 breaths per minute in the MSD table [3], 30–50 in the UC Davis chart [5] and 8–18 in Virginia Cooperative Extension [4].

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References

  1. Normal Rectal Temperature Ranges (table)MSD Veterinary Manual · Adapted from Robertshaw D (temperature regulation chapter) in Reece WO (ed.), Dukes' Physiology of Domestic Animals, 12th ed., Cornell University Press, 2004
  2. Resting Heart Rates (table)MSD Veterinary Manual · Adapted from Detweiler DK, Erickson HH (heart regulation chapter) in Reece WO (ed.), Dukes' Physiology of Domestic Animals, 12th ed., Cornell University Press, 2004
  3. Resting Respiratory Rates (table)MSD Veterinary Manual · Adapted from Reece WO (respiration chapter) in Reece WO (ed.), Dukes' Physiology of Domestic Animals, 12th ed., Cornell University Press, 2004
  4. Monitoring Livestock Vital SignsVirginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech and Virginia State University) · 2020 · Values credited by the source to LeViness EA, University of Arizona (BCH-3000); respiration table adapted from Cattle Producer's Library CL610
  5. Normal Vital Signs (vitals chart)California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET), University of California, Davis · June 2024

For veterinary professionals. Information supports — never replaces — clinical judgement; always check the current product label and local regulations.

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