Pigs are highly susceptible to heat stress and lack effective thermoregulation mechanisms, making temperature management critical for welfare in intensive systems.
Pig heat stress is a welfare emergency that unfolds over hours during heat events in poorly ventilated buildings. Panting requires significant energy expenditure, reducing the energy available for maintenance and growth; core body temperature elevation above 40 degrees Celsius causes protein denaturation, immune dysfunction, and cardiovascular strain. Sows in late gestation are particularly vulnerable — heat stress impairs blood flow to the uterus, causing piglet deaths and increasing risk of farrowing complications. The welfare investment in cooling infrastructure — evaporative systems, sprinklers, adequate ventilation, and reduced stocking density in summer — is directly proportional to the severity of heat events producers experience. Climate change makes these investments increasingly urgent.