The intent of this fact sheet is to provide introductory information on swine management methods that have been tested on Pacific island farms. This publication provides information on reduction of heat stress in swine by good air circulation, shade, wet-skin cooling, and hosing.Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Grant 99-38826-785

Castro, Luisa

Cleveland, Gordon

Duguies, Manuel

Hollyer, James

Ioanis, Engly

LeaMaster, Bradley

Paquin, Daniel

Zaleski, Halina M.

ScholarSpace at University of Hawai'i at Manoa

Keeping Pigs CoolSwine Waste Management for Pacific IslandsADAP 2003-5, June 2003ISBN 1-931435-32-4Openings in pens allow air movementto keep pigs coolAir circulationGood air circulation is important for the comfortof pigs. Circulating air in pens provides directcooling, lowers humidity, and assists coolingthrough evaporation. Temperatures should beregulated based on the size of the pig housed inthe pens. To do this you can:• Design open pens to let air through.• Locate pens to maximize air flow.• Keep drafts off newborn pigs.• Use bigger and wider pens.• Limit the number of pigs in each pen. Avoidovercrowding.ShadePigs can easily be sunburned. Shade protects pigsand provides a cool surface for the animals to lieon. Ideally, the high side of the shade cover orroof should be located on the south side (forlocations south of the equator) or on the north side(for locations north of the equator) to maximizeP igs do not sweat, and a pig cannot supplyenough moisture from its body to its skinsurface to keep itself cool. When a pig is con-fined, it is deprived of the opportunity to wet itsskin. This can lead to heat stress, reduced feedintake, and poor performance (e.g., lower preg-nancy rates, slow growth). It is in your bestinterest to provide the necessary cooling for theherd during periods of high heat stress. Heatstress occurs for pigs at different temperaturesdepending on their size.• Large pigs begin to feel heat stress when thetemperature rises over 21°C (70°F) withserious side affects to production at tempera-tures over 29°C (85°F).• Newborn pigs are healthiest at temperatures of32–33°C (90–95°F) and do less well at tem-peratures over (or under) this range.Following are seven economical methods to keeppigs cool and to maintain healthy and happy pigs.Pigs in the sun are easily heat-stressedThe intent of this fact sheet is to provide introductory information on swine waste management methods that have been tested on Pacific island farms. Somemay be more applicable than others and may need to be modified to make them more suitable. There may also be other suitable methods not outlined here.Type of animal Water per head Flow rate for    per day* nipple drinkerSow + litter 8 gal (30 liters) 3–4 cups/minuteNursery pig 1 gal (4 liters) 1–11⁄2 cups/minuteGrowing pig 3 gal (11 liters) 2–3 cups/minuteFinishing hog 5 gal (19 liters) 3–4 cups/minuteGestation sow 6 gal (23 liters) 3–4 cups/minute*Includes water use for drinking and moderate water wastage.Water cooling systems may increase usage.Pork Industry Handbook. PIH-87. Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service. 1992.2ADAP 2003-5        Swine Waste Management for Pacific Islands June 2003A sprinkler cooling systemheat loss from the animals. To make the most useof shade:• Orient the long axis of the shade structure fromeast to west.• Keep your pigs from being crowded together.• Provide shade facilities in any environmentincluding pastures, lots, and pens.• Utilize materials such as greenhouse shadecloth or tin roofing.Drinking waterProvide plenty of drinking water for pigs, especiallyin hot weather, as the animals lose a lot of waterwhen panting. Evaporation of water from the pig’sbreath helps to cool the pig. Water should be avail-able at all times through a nipple drinker or auto-matic water bowl. The table below shows typicalsummertime water use for pigs and nipple drinkerrecommendations for pig facilities.Wet-skin cooling: wallowsIf given a choice, a pig’s natural tendency is toseek out water and wet its skin by wallowing.Wallowing allows pigs to cool off when theevaporating water takes heat from the skin.Provide wallows in open lots or pastures.Although mud on the pig’s body helps protectfrom the sun’s rays, wallows under shade workbest.Wet-skin cooling: sprinklersUse sprinklers to cool pigs housed on concretefloors. Pigs are cooled as the water evaporatesfrom their skin. Sprinklers use less water thanhosing down each pig.• Use sprinklers rather than foggers becausefoggers get only the air wet, not the skin.• Construct sprinklers by punching holes in apolyethylene pipe with a drill.• Use sprinkler nozzles to provide a better spray.• Run the sprinkler for 1–2 minutes every halfhour when temperatures exceed 27°C (80°F).Thermostat-controlled timers work best.• Spray 1 gallon of water per hour to cool 50large (114 kg/250 lb) pigs.• Locate sprinklers over the manure area to keepsleeping and eating areas dry.Pork Industry Handbook. PIH-87. Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service. 1992.power supplythermostattimersolenoid valve(normally closed)nozzlestrainer withremovable screenor filter unitwatersupply line2.6 m (8’6”)2 m (6’6”)3.7 m (12’0”)0.9 m (3’0”)3.7 m (12’0”)Source: Pork Industry Handbook. PIH-87. Purdue University Cooperative Extension ServiceA shade cooling system3ADAP 2003-5        Swine Waste Management for Pacific Islands June 2003This series of fact sheets was developed by: Halina M. Zaleski*(University of Hawaii-UHM), Manuel Duguies (University ofGuam), Engly Ioanis (College of Micronesia-FSM), GordonCleveland (formerly with UHM), Daniel Paquin (UHM), BradleyLeaMaster (formerly with UHM), Luisa Castro** (UHM), andJames Hollyer (UHM).* Send correspondence to 1955 East-West Road, AgriculturalScience 216, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Re-sources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii USA96822.** Provided content research and technical editing. Thanks toKristie Tsuda for her work in the assembly and layout of earlierversions of this work and to Dale Evans for editing. Thanks also toShirley Nakamura and James Lum of Natural Resources Conser-vation Service-Hawaii for their helpful advice.Disclaimer: The information contained on this publication is to beused at your own risk. As always, follow your local regulations.For Further Information:American Samoa Community College  (684) 699-1575 - fax (684) 699-5011College of Micronesia  (691) 320-2728 - fax (691) 320-2726     College of Micronesia (FSM)  (691) 320-8181 - fax (691) 320-2972     College of the Marshall Islands  (692) 528-5033 - fax (692) 528-4699     Palau Community College  (680) 488-2746 - fax (680) 488-3307Northern Marianas College  (670) 234-3690 - fax (670) 234-0054University of Guam  (671) 735-2002 - fax (671) 734-6842University of Hawaii  (808) 956-8140 - fax (808) 956-6967Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative StateResearch, Education and Extension Service Grant 99-38826-7854ADAP Home Office - College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources3050 Maile Way, Gilmore Hall 112, University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI 96822 USA  www.adap.hawaii.edu/adap - adap@hawaii.eduThe Pacific Land Grants and the U.S.D.A. are Equal Opportunity/AffirmativeAction Institutions.An efficient sprinkler cooling system should havethe following:• A sediment filter (100 mesh strainer) in the wa-ter line before it reaches the sprinkler, and• A timer-operated solenoid valve.Wet-skin cooling: dripDrip cooling keeps sows in farrowing cratescomfortable. Ahose with a dripnozzle is sus-pended over eachfarrowing crate ina position thatallows water todrip slowly overthe sow’s neck andshoulder area.Evaporation of thewater has a cool-ing effect, makingthe sow morecomfortable andreducing heatstress. A temperature-activated electronic devicecan be used to control the water flow.Pigs enjoy the cooling provided by a sprinklerDrip cooling a sowdrip nozzleHosingIn an emergency, pigs can be cooled by hosingthem down once an hour. Use this method as alast resort because it:• Wastes a lot of fresh water.• Creates a lot of wastewater.• Takes time to hose down each pig.For additional resources and publications, refer toADAP fact sheet 2003-11 on Additional Informa-tion for Swine Waste Management.

Keeping Pigs Cool

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Keeping Pigs Cool

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