An extreme heat wave will persist over the U.S. into early next week. The National Weather Service says a broad upper ridge centered across central and southern U.S. is predicted to producer widespread “dangerous” heat from the Plains into portions of the Mississippi Valley and Southeast with temperatures expected in triple digits. During the peak of county fair season for a large part of the country, these daunting forecasts have youth exhibitors and their families on edge.
Although heat stress is more commonly considered to occur in extreme temperatures, anytime the temperature exceeds 70 degrees, livestock are adversely affected. Heat stress causes increased respiration rate, suppressed appetite, fatigue and dehydration, all signs of a lowered immune response. Keep a close watch for signs of panting, lethargy or diarrhea that could indicate heat stress.
“The extreme humidity that is forecast is a concern for pigs this week at county fairs,” says Jeff Logue, DVM, with Logue’s Champion Veterinary Service in Indiana. “Because pigs do not sweat, they dissipate body heat by increasing their respiratory rate. Pigs actually have a small lung capacity for their body mass. Because of this, when the air is humid, it makes moving the moving air much more difficult for the pig which actually increases their body temperature instead of lowering it.”
10 Tips to Keep Pigs Comfortable in Dangerous Heat
Logue is a trusted veterinarian and advisor for many show pig families across Indiana and beyond. He offers up 10 tips based on years of experience to help keep your pigs cool this week at the county fair and help them perform to their best ability under these hot weather conditions.
1. Offer pigs fresh, cool water in addition to water with electrolytes and wet feeding.
Keep water sources in a shaded environment if possible. Make sure lines that serve as water sources are not exposed to heat that can result in the water in the lines getting extremely hot.
2. Spray pigs down periodically with water that has ice in it.
Keep a sprayer full of water with a little ice in it on hand to give pigs a refreshing mist to help them cool down. Wetting the skin with cool water and using airflow helps heat evaporate safely.
3. Place towels soaked in ice water on the pig’s back.
This direct application of cold towels is one more way you can help your pig cool down its body temperature faster.
4. Set up fans so air is blowing across pigs in the same direction.
Placing fans to blow air in the same direction creates a unified, smooth airflow that maximizes cooling speed, prevents air pockets from colliding, and safely pushes heat and moisture out of the space. When fans blow against each other, the air streams crash and stop moving, leaving dead zones where heat builds up.
5. Take your pig to the wash pen multiple times a day to rinse.
When you rinse animals with cool water, it helps drop their core temperature quicker than anything else you can do. When you rinse, focus on cooling their underline and head as it will help them cool down faster.
6. Limit the use of skin products with oil.
Oil acts as a barrier that prevents natural body heat from escaping through the skin. Pigs lack functional sweat glands, meaning they rely heavily on skin evaporation and airflow to cool down. Oil-based products can magnify direct sunlight and hot temperatures, raising the risk of skin damage or severe overheating.
7. Feed during cooler times of the day if possible.
Livestock, like humans, don’t want to eat when it’s extremely hot. Feeding earlier in the mornings allows the animals a chance to eat before it gets hot.
8. Place a bag of ice in the pen with the pig to lay down on.
If a pig is showing signs of heat stress, a bag of ice gives the pig a chilly surface to press its body against to lower its temperature more quickly.
9. Exercise pigs during the cooler times of the day.
Moving around in the hot sun raises a pig’s body heat too fast and can cause serious issues like heat stroke. Heavy exercise in warm air can make it hard for pigs to breathe and cool their bodies.
10. Make sure someone checks on the pig every 30 minutes.
When temperatures are dangerously high, a pig’s condition can change quickly if a fan stops or if their water gets cut off.
Stay Focused on Your No. 1 Priority
Don’t lose your focus on the most important job you have at the fair – caring for your animals, Logue recommends.
“It’s fun to hang out with your friends at the fair, but remember the wellbeing of your livestock is critically important in temperatures and humidity like this,” Logue says. “Things can change quickly. You may not be able to escape the heat, but turn that challenge into an advantage by preparing properly and paying close attention to your livestock.”
