Productive pigs need to keep their cool
It’s that time of year again when the days are getting longer, the sun’s rays are getting stronger and most of us have a little spring in our step.
This signals what we hope is the start of summer, although we’ve had a few false starts over recent weeks.
With that in mind, it’s important to think about the management changes we need to implement to ensure pigs are comfortable throughout the summer and that productivity doesn’t take a hit. Something I’m always sure to do is record any hot spells in my diary. I then look ahead to when the effects of the high temperatures might be seen in the performance of both sows and boars.
For example, across much of the country, there was a heatwave around April 18 to 22. This could affect boar semen quality for up to eight weeks, taking us through to mid-June. The most significant impacts are usually seen around three to five weeks after the period of hot weather, which means now is the peak time for semen quality to be at its lowest. You might expect a drop in conception rates, so be extra vigilant with checking for returns.
The most susceptible time for sows to heat stress is seven to 14 days post service. If it gets warm, try to keep sows as cool as you can, using shades, wallows and sprinklers, and by ensuring ventilation systems are working efficiently (now would be a good time to give them a spring clean and service!).
Hot weather also affects growing pigs and can result in a 50g/d reduction in growth rates. So, before the warm weather really takes hold, I suggest getting preventative measures in place now, to avoid the performance drops that the summer weather may lead to if you aren’t prepared.
At AHDB, we’ve a number of resources that you can refer to, simply search for ‘heat stress’ on our website, or get in touch. In the meantime, some key areas you should be focusing on, include:
Water: Make sure there are sufficient drinkers in each pen and that they are all working properly; if in doubt, supply additional water in troughs.
Ventilation: Consider using supplementary fans for large pens that are reliant on natural ventilation. Clean and maintain your fans and check they are working properly.
Wallows: Now is the perfect time to get wallows dug; make sure they are muddy and they don’t dry out.
Shade: If you’ve got outdoor pigs, check there’s enough shade so they can move out of direct sunlight.
Angela Cliff is AHDB Pork Knowledge Exchange Manager (Central)
