The traditional image of a pig relaxing in the mud is a familiar one, but for sows, hot weather can be a significant threat to their health and welfare. Heat stress is a condition where a pig struggles to maintain a normal body temperature and can have a devastating impact on welfare and a pig producer’s bottom line. While the UK’s climate normally lives within moderate ranges, periods of hot weather can pose a challenge, particularly for indoor piggeries with limited natural ventilation.
Experts suggest that a sow’s ideal comfort zone lies between 18°C and 20°C. Temperatures exceeding this, especially when combined with high humidity, can trigger heat stress. Modern, high-yield sows are particularly susceptible, as their increased metabolic rate generates more body heat.
The consequences of heat stress in sows can be complex, with reduced feed intake being a common symptom, leading to lower milk production – this ultimately impacts piglet growth and survival rates. Heat stress can also disrupt the sow’s reproductive cycle, and in severe cases, heat stress can even lead to organ damage and death.
For pig producers, the impact of heat stress can translate directly to lost revenue. Reduced litter sizes, lower piglet weights, and increased mortality rates can all affect profits, and additionally, sows experiencing heat stress are more susceptible to diseases, further escalating production costs.
Steps to reduce the risk of heat stress in sows
There are steps pig producers can take to mitigate the risk of heat stress. Ensuring proper ventilation is crucial. Installing fans, and utilising evaporative cooling systems can all help to create a cooler environment, and providing access to an increased amount of clean, fresh water is essential, as increased water intake is a key way for sows to regulate their body temperature.
Increasing animal nutrition during hot weather is also important. Adjusting feed rations to include more water-rich ingredients and electrolytes can help sows stay hydrated, and shading outdoor areas and providing wallows or sprinklers can offer sows a chance to cool down.
Thoughts for the future
Heat stress is a growing concern for pig producers around the world, and the UK is no exception with our warming climate. By understanding the signs, taking preventative measures, and adapting management practices during hot weather, pig producers can ensure the well-being of their sows and protect their business from the negative impacts of heat stress.
Don’t forget biosecurity as well!
Keeping your pigs comfortable across the summer period is imperative, both for welfare and commercial reasons, and with African swine fever (ASF) getting nearer to the UK from Europe, biosecurity should also be a top priority for UK pig farmers. As there is no cure for ASF the only defence pig farmers have is robust on-farm biosecurity.
Livetec have been advising UK farmers on biosecurity and contingency plans for over a decade. Our Biosecurity Advisory Service provides you with an on-farm visit from our biosecurity experts, advice on how to improve your biosecurity protocols and create a biosecurity plan and documentation for government inspectors.
To find out more, book a visit here or contact a Livetec expert today.
