HEAT STRESS – Let us help you get on the right track with these tips!
Proxani: Discover effective measures to reduce heat stress in pigs, dairy cows and beef cattle. Improve growth and feed conversion during hotter periods.When does heat stress occur?
Pigs
When heat stress occurs in pigs can depend on a number of different factors. A good rule of thumb is that heat stress can occur from temperatures exceeding 24° C. All livestock tend to have a hard time when temperatures rise. However, pigs have a particularly hard time due to not having any sweat glands. As a result, they are not able to dissipate any excess body heat, which they can only do through panting. Pigs will also consume less feed, as additional heat is produced during the digestive process. The impact of heat stress in finishing pigs manifests itself in poorer growth and diminished feed conversion, with heavy finishing pigs being most at risk.
Which measures are most effective during periods of heat stress?
Dairy cows and beef cattle
Heat stress can occur both indoors and outdoors. It occurs in instances of high humidity combined with high temperatures. Humidity, expressed in THI (temperature-humidity index), already poses problems from a THI of 68. Over the last five years, there was an average of 46 days per year with a THI of at least 72 and above. So heat stress is increasingly causing problems in livestock production.
“I’m the pig feed consultant for your region. I’ve been with Proxani for 26 years, with my passion for agriculture and livestock feed coming from my grandparents.”
Your local expert
Steven Maertens
