Signs of heat stress in pigs include: Open-mouth breathing, vocalization, blotchy skin, stiffness, muscle tremors and the reluctance to move
Reluctance to move ? Well Katie barr the door. That's 98% of Bella's life. The only time she wants to move is towards the food bowl or stealing the ducks food before and now the goats food. 😂
Seriously watching your pig for heat stress is easier to start watching the pigs breathing. If they are panting with an open mouth they've probably started the beginning stages of heat injury.
Keep in mind pigs can't sweat because they have no sweat glands. So most people are under the impression that if they are caked in dry mud they are protected . That's absolutely a myth. The reason they roll or flop in the mud is because they are trying to diccipate heat through the ground or mud. Dry patches of ground by the way do them no good. So mud good , dry ground bad.
Also relative humidity affects their ability to off put heat. The higher the relative humidity the less ability they have to off put heat by panting because the humidity in the air they are breathing is higher or equal to the air in their lungs.
So what do you do to diccipate heat quickly . Spray them down with running water that can help take the heat away . It won't be a quick squirt with the water hose but a steady stream that can pull the heat away gradually. Having a running fan moving air can also help but with high relative humidity it can also decrease it's effectiveness.
Provide them with plenty of water , without the Apple cider vinegar, that is cool and clean. Provide them with plenty of shade , limit the amount of feed to help reduce increasing internal temperatures through digestion . And most importantly be vigalent in your efforts in watching for early signs and temperatures for heat injuries. 🥵🐷🌞
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