A Checklist to Keep Your Pigs Cool This Summer

Dec 08, 2023

Temperatures are quickly on the rise as we approach the start of summer. Mature pigs are more comfortable when the air temperature is between 50 and 75 degrees - once the weather starts consistently being over 80 degrees, we have to be on guard for heat stress in our animals. Be on the lookout for warning signs such as open-mouth breathing, panting and rapidly blotchy skin.

Even without extreme heat stress, pigs are inherently bad at managing their body temperature, since they can't sweat. We know that productivity tends to drop in the summer months with reduced feed intake, lower finishing weights and increases in mortality. We have to provide other ways they can cool themselves, such as airflow and water evaporation. Facility management makes a big difference, so I recommend that producers make a checklist to prepare their barns.

Successfully run and test the power transfer, because you would expect that you are going to have more power outages due to more use of electricity, which can result in overheated panels and tripped breakers. Check your generator's oil, and make sure you have plenty of diesel and engine coolant on hand.

When you are moving pigs on a hot day, it's always good to have an extra outside water source so you can spray down the trailer. I recommend having a garden hose near your loadout. Double-check that winter freezes didn't damage or crack your location. Walk the outside of your barns daily to check for any water leaks.

Another outside consideration is roads and driveways. Winter is hard on them and can cause some rough surfaces and potholes. I would consider ordering a load of gravel to make sure your farm continues to be accessible for truck traffic.

Before you start your cool cells, check that the cool cell pads are in good shape and not covered by an excess of calcium or algae that can restrict airflow. If needed, you can add chemicals that help remove that extra buildup.

Test that your cool cells and cool cell pumps are all functioning properly. When they are functioning properly, the target air volume is 400 feet per minute. Have extra cool cell pumps on hand; I recommend at least four. Due to high use, those can frequently have issues and burn out.

Fans are also going to be in high demand. As with your cool cells, make sure there is not buildup on or around your fans and screen that will decrease airspeed capacity. Check the fan motor and belts and grease the bearings. Prepare for something to break — make sure you have extra parts, belts and motors on hand if needed.

Remove all your winter insulation that was there to stop drafts and conserve energy during the cold months. Check your inlets and ensure they are functional and set properly for the warmer summer months. You will also want to shut the ceiling inlet and force the air to go through the cool cells and across the barn. We don't want the air pulling down from the ceiling, as we expect the attic to have at least 10 degrees hotter air.

Ensure there are no holes or damage to your curtains and they are all in working order, including the connector, cables, ropes and pulleys. Grease winches on automatic curtains and the bearings on curtain pulleys. Making sure your emergency drop is functional is critical to avoid any risk of suffocation of your animals.

We do expect an increased number of alarms in the summer, so make sure you verify all your systems are functioning. Adjust your parameters to summer settings to make sure we are keeping a good eye on the farm. Farrowing set point is usually to sound around 20 degrees over the checkpoint, and gestation is typically around 30 degrees over.

This is not an exhaustive list, but some key items to include in your summer preparation plan. It is important to check equipment ahead of consistently high temperatures so you can make adjustments, repairs and orders as needed. If everything is functioning properly, the most we can drop the temperature from outside is 10 to 15 degrees. We have to make sure everything is working to provide the pigs and our production teams with every degree we can, to alleviate stress and impacts on productivity.

More from Farm Journal's PORK:

5 Ways to Keep Pigs Cool When Temperatures Rise