Download the complete report
Dr. Joe Loughmiller
North American Senior Swine Technical Services Manager, Phileo by Lesaffre
What is Heat Stress?
Heat stress occurs when a pig is unable to maintain a comfortable body temperature due to high environmental temperature and humidity. It is well established that bigger, mature pigs are more susceptible because of their size, body fat content, and inability to
perspire in response to increased environmental temperatures. The effects of this are varied, with increased panting, reduced activity, lower feed consumption reduced growth performance and sow milk production (see Table 1). The metabolic effects are also d, with increased inflammatory stress, gastrointestinal permeability, insulin levels and stress metabolites, reduced follicular development and reduced antibody levels in milk and colostrum (see Table 2; Figure 1).
