4 tips to minimize the impact of high temperatures on pigs

On a pig farm, during the summer, animals can drastically reduce their feed intake. As a consequence, they often decrease their energy and amino acid intake, which considerably affects production.

To help pig farmers overcome these challenges, Neventon Santi Vieira, portfolio manager at Agrifirm, and Raphael Perini Caetano, monogastric animal nutritionist at Agrifirm, share some tips below. Check them out:

Tip 1: Prioritize a formulation that is more suitable for the summer period.
Female animals perform better with increased nutritional intake. For example, consider using energy supplements. Agrifirm's portfolio offers Fertimix Energético. Among its benefits are increased energy availability for milk production, reduced heat stress, improved feed palatability, and easier introduction into the diet.

Tip 2: Enter the pens and move the animals around.
It is of fundamental importance to monitor the piglet's development in order to stimulate consumption. The simple act of the producer entering the pens to move the piglets causes the animals to go more often to the feeder and waterer.

Tip 3: Pay attention to stress.
When piglets are separated from their mothers at weaning, they undergo a series of stressful changes: separation from the mother, restructuring of the hierarchy within the new batches, change of environment, transition from liquid feed (milk) to solid feed (feed), among others. Furthermore, young animals are demanding in terms of temperature and require a well-climate-controlled environment to achieve their maximum performance. These stress factors can cause an imbalance between the formation of free radicals and antioxidants (oxidative stress). To minimize the harmful effects of oxidative stress and contribute to improved health and performance, Agrifirm offers an interesting solution called Vitanox.

Tip 4: Pay attention to water quality.
Check that all waterers have the correct water flow rate, the correct temperature, and are free of impurities and contaminants. To guarantee the quality of the water supplied, it is recommended to use an acidity regulator. Agrifirm offers the BioAcqua PH acidity regulator, which acts on the biofilm and maintains a stable pH, even in the presence of organic matter.