As the extremely hot weather settles in across much of the country, proper temperature control and ventilation are essential in swine barns to help protect animals from heat stress that can compromise their health and performance, AP, AGCO’s swine production equipment brand, reminds producers in a release.
Heat stress directly impacts pigs’ daily weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, and can lead to poor growth rates, reduced milk production and impaired fertility. It can also weaken hogs’ immune system, making them more susceptible to diseases. Signs of heat stress include panting, reduced feed intake and increased water consumption.
“Even without extreme heat stress, pigs are inherently bad at managing their body temperature, since they can’t sweat,” says Attila Farkas, DVM, of Carthage Veterinary Service. “We know that productivity tends to drop in the summer months with reduced feed intake, lower finishing weights and increases in mortality. We have to provide other ways they can cool themselves, such as airflow and water evaporation. Facility management makes a big difference.” Check out his checklist here.
Dwight Naber, District Sales Manager for AP, recommends these simple steps to help provide your hogs with an optimal environment during hot weather.
● Make sure tunnel fans turn on during hot temperatures.
● Clean tunnel fan shutters and inspect the fan housing and cone. Dirty shutters, cracks and defects in the fan housing and cone can negatively impact the ability of the fans to move high volumes of air.
● Check for loose or worn fan belts and replace if necessary.
● Ensure your tunnel curtains open properly.
● Clean and inspect your cooling system to make sure it is functioning properly.
Don’t forget that technology – such as controllers – help to create and maintain the ideal hog environment, Naber adds.
“With the right technology, producers can conveniently monitor multiple barns as well as notice changes in the barn environment, increased water consumption and a decrease in feed intake,” he says.
Read More about Heat Stress:
A Checklist to Keep Your Pigs Cool This Summer
The Heat is On: 6 Tips to Prevent Heat Stress at the Fair
The HotHog Days of Summer: New App Predicts Heat Stress in Pigs
