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The HotHog Days of Summer: New App Predicts Heat Stress in Pigs

The hot summer months are upon us, and a team at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and university scientists recently announced a new smartphone application, HotHog, to help predict heat stress in pigs.

Utilizing local weather data, the app predicts relative comfort or heat stress levels of pigs on an hourly, daily or weekly basis, says the release. Swine producers may then use this information to determine the pigs’ needs, including the adjustment of ventilation rates, utilizing sprinklers and ensuring free access to abundant, cool water. 

Heat stress in pigs costs the U.S. swine industry an estimated $481 million in revenue losses each year, notes the release, while Jay S. Johnson, animal scientist who leads the ARS’s Livestock Behavior Research Unit in West Lafayette, Ind., says ensuring positive welfare and productivity in pigs will be even more critical in the face of global climate change.

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Ana Paula Silva from Iowa State University shares insights on the POMP (PRRS Outbreak Management Program) and how it helps producers manage PRRS outbreaks more effectively. She explains the program’s approach to tracking outbreak data, measuring recovery, and optimizing health interventions. Learn how participation can benefit your operation and improve industry-wide disease management. Listen now on all major platforms!