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With the return of warm weather, proper temperature control and ventilation are essential in swine barns to help protect animals from heat stress that can compromise their health and performance.
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.
Mark Oberreuter, senior technician and ventilation expert for AP, AGCO's swine production equipment brand, recommends these steps to help provide an optimal hog environment during hot weather.
Oberreuter adds that technology – such as controllers – help to create and maintain the ideal hog environment. 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. "Technology doesn't replace the need to walk your barns and see how your pigs are doing, but it can help supplement visual inspection," he says.
Finally, he notes, producers should be aware of the weather forecast and plan ahead with a strategy to protect their pigs from high temperatures. "Have your fans, shutters and other cooling system components ready, so that if hot weather is expected, your pigs can stay cool and at their highest levels of productivity."
Source: AP, which is solely responsible for the information provided, and wholly owns the information. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.
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