What are the precautions for raising pigs in summer? Farmers should keep these key points in mind
Summer is hot with high temperatures, and many problems arise when raising pigs. For example, pigs have relatively thick subcutaneous fat and underdeveloped sweat glands, so when summer temperatures are high, they cannot easily cool down by sweating. As a result, many pig farmers encounter slow growth and easy loss of body fat in their pigs during summer. Moreover, the high-temperature and high-humidity environment makes pigs prone to diseases and heatstroke. Below, Qinnong Net brings you the precautions for raising pigs in summer.
1. Heatstroke prevention and cooling
Before the arrival of high summer temperatures, build a shade shed or sun-blocking wall around the pen to provide shade and block direct sunlight. You can also plant vines around the pig house and let them grow to cover the shed or sun-blocking wall, lowering the temperature of the pig house and reducing heat radiation. Install a layer of foam ceiling inside the pig house, which can provide insulation. At noon when the temperature is highest, spraying water on the pigs, the ground or the walls can achieve a cooling effect. All these methods can help prevent heatstroke and reduce the temperature.
2. Hygiene and disinfection
Summer is the peak season for mosquitoes and flies, and the high-temperature and high-humidity environment makes the smell in the pig house unpleasant and easily breeds bacteria, bringing a negative impact on the sanitary environment of the pig house. Poor hygiene leads to slow growth and susceptibility to disease in pigs, making disease prevention on the pig farm difficult. Therefore, hygiene is extremely important. The environment inside and outside the pig house, as well as feeding utensils and other places, must be cleaned regularly, especially dead corners. Many bacteria and microorganisms cannot be completely eliminated by cleaning alone, so disinfection is necessary. In ordinary farming, small-scale regular disinfection is carried out, but before pigs are sent to market, large-scale and thorough disinfection must be carried out.
3. Pay attention to stocking density
If the stocking density is too high, the heat generated by the pigs' breathing and body surface heat dissipation will keep increasing, making collective heatstroke and disease very likely. Therefore, stocking density is very important in summer, and the breeding density should be appropriately reduced.
4. Feeding and drinking water
At high temperatures, pigs have poor appetite and reduced feed intake, so attention should be paid to the timing and method of feeding. Feeding should increase the proportion of concentrate and provide more feed rich in vitamins and minerals. Try to avoid feeding during the high-temperature period. Feed more in the morning and evening and less at noon when temperatures are high, so that pigs can still grow quickly in summer. In addition, drinking water must be sufficient. At high temperatures, pigs mainly dissipate heat through evaporation, and sufficient cool drinking water is one of the ways to prevent heatstroke. You can also add an appropriate amount of salt to the drinking water, as salt can help regulate body temperature.
The above are the precautions for raising pigs in summer brought to you by Qinnong Net. In summer, pig farming should also pay attention to disease prevention. At high temperatures, sows are prone to endometritis, mastitis, agalactia and other diseases, while piglets are prone to yellow and white dysentery and coccidiosis. Vaccines should be injected in time and protective measures should be taken.