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7. Minimize heat stress on breeding stock

2017-07-07 17:22:00| National Hog Farmer

Research shows elevated temperatures can negatively impact gilts, sows and boars. The National Pork Board offers these tips - Feed sows when it is cool – Provide feed to sows during the coolest parts of the day. Pigs in the growing and finishing stage will alter their eating behavior by eating more feed in the nighttime hours. Feeding sows in gestation in the early morning can help them stay cooler because the heat associated with digesting and metabolizing their meal dissipates prior to the heat of the day - Check for estrus when it is cool – Check for estrus behavior and breed in the early morning or late-evening. Sows are more likely to show estrus signs when it’s cooler, so more animals will be identified in standing heat during the coolest part of the day. - Keep boars cool, too – Sows are only half of the reproductive equation, so if you have boars, keep them cool with evaporative coolers or water misters. Boar libido is enhanced when it is cooler, so collect boars early in the morning or in the evening. If using natural service, also take advantage of the coolest part of the day.    

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