How Do Sows and Piglets Perceive Their EET In Summer?
During warm months, sows and piglets have different thermal needs and perceptions. As given in Table 2, sows are in thermal distress at EET’s that are just right for newborn piglets. For all practical purposes, it is virtually impossible to heat stress a piglet less than one week old. But for the sow (open, pregnant or lactating) heat stress control should be implemented when the air temperature exceeds 80 F (22 C). I have given heat stress control measures in table form, by climate type (Table 3). In a warm EET, access to the wallow is required. We have shown that the wallow is used as soon as the air temperature is above freezing. Thus in mild climates, wallows should be available to sow use year-round (or at least for those days that have an air temperature above freezing). When the air and water temperature exceeds pig body temperatures, the wallow will not be comfortable and thus sows will not use them–or they will run in and then get out. To avoid heat stress problems, wallows s
