Document type: good practice guide published by the IFIP
Authors: Yvonnick Rousselière, Nathalie Quiniou, Sylviane Boulot, Alexia Aubry
Preview: Following a series of heat waves that have impacted the pig industry across all regions of France, the IFIP has produced a compilation of recommendations from its existing publications, forming a comprehensive, practical, and easily accessible online guide. In doing so, it helps pig farmers to better prepare for such events by adapting their farming practices to the changing climate (that can be downloaded for free). Table of contents:
1 – BEFORE A HEAT WAVE: MAKE SURE CONDITIONS ON FARM ARE AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE
– Check that the ventilation system is working properly
– Reduce stocking density towards the end of finishing
– Restrict competition for resources (water and feed)
– Use summer feed formulas
– Prepare breeding stock
– Prepare for insemination
– The human factor is important
– Consult your technician and veterinarian
2 – DURING EXTREME HEAT: IMPROVE ANIMAL COMFORT
– Observe animals to assess their perceived temperatures
– Avoid actions that lead to activity spikes in the middle of the day
– Increase water intake
– Spray water on animals outside the barns
– Increase air intake surface area
– Create airflow onto the animals
– Mist with water near the air intakes
– Restrict rises in bedding temperatures
– Anticipate peaks of heat by managing feeding times, portion sizes, and the distribution of special feed
– Accurately detect when animals come on heat
– Protect semen doses
– Inseminate using flexible protocols
– Monitor gestation so failures can be quickly detected – Monitor sows in the maternity area
3 – AFTER EXTREME HEAT: PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
– Reduce the building's heat absorption
– Restrict the sunlight that enters the building
– Invest in a cooling system
– Invest in a ground-source heat pump
– Return to a normal feeding schedule
– Long-term effects
– Conduct a post-heatwave assessment of reproduction
4 – PRACTICAL INFORMATION
– Cost of major accidents that occur in pig farming
– Early warning tools
– IFIP training
Click here to download the guide to pig farming during heat waves (in French)
