Too much heat in hog buildings can lead to stressed pigs - or even worse.
As the dog days of August approach, producers need to be vigilant when it comes to keeping pigs cool.
Making sure cooling systems work is key, says Joseph Zulovich, Extension ag engineer with the University of Missouri.
He says with naturally ventilated buildings, things are in good shape when the wind is blowing, but on the hottest days those pigs are going to need some additional help.
“My preference is to use a sprinkler to help cool pigs,” Zulovich says. “Get the pigs wet and let the air evaporate the moisture, which will cool them down. It works really well with the hot and humid weather we can get in the Midwest.”
He recommends fans blow from west to east for maximum cooling efficiency.
With a mechanically ventilated building, Zulovich says it's important that the inside temperature be no more than 2 to 5 degrees higher than the outside temperature.
“If it gets higher than that, something has gone wrong,” Zulovich says.
Inlets should be checked to make sure they are in proper working order.
Producers who choose to use a fogging system will want to make sure cycle times are properly set. Zulovich says they should be on for no more than 30 to 90 seconds.
“You want to wet the pigs down and shut it off,” he says.
Producers may want to pay extra attention to sows when it's very hot outside, says Brett Ramirez, Extension ag engineer with Iowa State University.
“We don't see the issues with finishing pigs that we do with sows,” Ramirez says.
He says during periods of extremely hot weather, such as what the Midwest suffered through recently, it's going to be a challenge keep those pigs cool.
“You want to make sure they move around so they keep eating,” he says.
Ramirez says water systems should be checked frequently to ensure pigs are getting enough water. Fans need to be kept clean and wide open, and belts and pulleys should be checked.
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