Pigs are highly susceptible to heat stress due to their limited ability to sweat and high metabolic rate, making thermal management a critical welfare requirement in warm climates and summer conditions.
Pig heat stress causes significant welfare harm through discomfort, reduced appetite and reproductive failure. Pigs in indoor systems without adequate ventilation, and outdoor pigs without shade or wallowing opportunities, are particularly vulnerable. As temperatures rise with climate change, heat stress management becomes increasingly important in both intensive and extensive pig production.