Pig Farming

Pig Hot Climate Welfare and Heat Stress

Pigs are highly susceptible to heat stress due to limited sweat glands, requiring active cooling management in warm climates and during summer.

Key Facts

Pigs have very few functional sweat glands and rely on panting and wallowing to cool
Critical temperature threshold is approximately 25 degrees Celsius for adult pigs
Heat stress reduces feed intake, growth rate, and reproductive performance significantly
Wallowing in mud is a natural thermoregulation behaviour denied in intensive systems
Sprinkler systems and ventilation can maintain acceptable temperatures in hot weather

Welfare Considerations

Heat stress in pigs causes visible and significant suffering - panting, lethargy, and reduced activity. Severe heat stress causes death. In intensive systems where pigs cannot wallow, sprinkler systems, ventilation, and feed timing adjustments are essential welfare interventions. Climate change is making heat stress increasingly relevant even in traditionally cool climates like the UK.

What You Can Do

Support pig welfare standards including heat management requirements
Advocate for sprinkler and ventilation standards in pig housing welfare assurance
Choose pork from farms with documented heat stress management protocols