What are the effects and harms of heat stress on pigs
The heat stress response in summer has a big impact on pigs. Some cases show obvious symptoms, which is fine, but the ones that are not obvious can have a major impact on pigs later on. So what are these effects exactly? Let's take a look at these effects together with Qinnong Web.
1. Slowing down pig growth
When the heat stress response in pigs is relatively obvious, it mostly occurs around August to September, which is the hottest period in many places. At this time, pigs show a clear decline in feeding, while their metabolism increases significantly, so the pigs end up with insufficient nutrition, and their growth slows down. If the feed provided at this time is unreasonable, it may even very likely cause the pigs to lose weight, so all kinds of nutritional elements must be kept up in summer.
2. Reducing pig immunity
Many friends only feel that the probability of pigs getting sick rises in summer, and always assume it is because summer diseases occur easily. In fact, this is also closely related to heat stress causing a decline in pig immunity. Heat stress can cause the pig's immune mechanism to run slowly, and can even lead to a reduction in immune cells, while pathogens in the outside environment become extremely active. This is the reason pigs get sick. So controlling the temperature and hygiene of the pig pen in summer is extremely important. If it is not done well, it will lead to frequent pig diseases later on.
3. Reducing sow reproductive capacity
Heat stress is also an important cause of sow infertility in summer. Long-term heat stress will reduce the conception rate of sows, and even if they do conceive, the decline in uterine function can lead to miscarriage, difficult birth and other situations, and in severe cases it can also affect the sow's conception ability for a long time, leading to a decline in the number of piglets born later. The reason is that heat stress prevents the sow from providing a good growth environment for the pig fetuses, causing the pig fetuses to fail to develop properly in various ways and finally forming stillborn fetuses.
4. Reducing boar fertilization capacity
Heat stress also has a big impact on boars. If it lasts a long time, it will lead to a decline in the boar's sexual desire and function, making it unwilling to mate. If the body temperature stays high for a long time, the boar's semen concentration will also clearly decrease, and even the quantity will be reduced. This is because at this time the boar is very difficult to stimulate sexually, and the response level received by the pig body is low, so the quality and quantity produced certainly cannot be guaranteed. Some boars, because the duration is too long, may even end up unable to fertilize.
Of course, heat stress certainly has more situations that appear, and these are some relatively less obvious ones. Everyone must pay attention to defensive measures against heat stress in summer. Generally, as long as the temperature is regulated well, heat stress will rarely occur.