Question

高校3年生

アを和訳していただきたいです。
この場合のasはどういう風に訳すのが正しいですか？

When exposed to higher temperatures, pigs reduce how much food they consume.
the amount
of
(ア)
This is one method for cooling down, as consuming less food reduces
heat produced during searching for food, eating and digestion, said Dan Tucker, a
11
portant