ARTICLE 48 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE September 2022 NUTRITION AS A TOOL FOR MANAGING HEAT STRESS IN SWINE PRODUCTION “As global temperatures continue to increase year after year, so do economic losses due to heat stress. Providing proper nutrients to support and sustain pigs’ performance is an important part of helping pigs manage heat stress and the harm it can inflict on animal performance and producers’ businesses.” Climate change is posing an increasing threat to livestock and pig producers’ businesses, as sustained periods of hot weather become more frequent. Beyond animal welfare considerations, heat stress can reduce animal performance, compromise herd health, and threaten producers’ margins. When animals are exposed to temperatures higher than they are accustomed to, nutrients are diverted away from product synthesis (producing meat and milk, supporting fetus growth) to maintaining body temperature. This diversion of nutrients affects the animal’s productivity and can set in motion a range of negative consequences. Below, we consider how heat stress affects pigs’ performance and look at how science-based nutrition can help mitigate the effects of heat stress on herds and producers’ businesses. HOW HEAT STRESS AFFECTS SWINE PERFORMANCE Multiple heat waves occurring in the Americas and Europe in recent years demonstrate that heat stress is not restricted to tropical regions. As a specie, pigs are especially sensitive to heat, because they have fewer functional sweat glands. Pigs’ physical predisposition to heat sensitivity is further aggravated by a thick layer of tissue below the skin, called subcutaneous adipose tissue. Genetic selection efforts to support leanness, improve milk yield and enhance fertility have led to an increase in pigs’ metabolic heat production. An unwanted consequence of these efforts is that herds are more susceptible to heat stress. In both fattening pigs and animals in the breeding herd, heat stress can adversely affect a variety of production parameters including growth, carcass composition, and reproduction. Evidence suggests that maternal exposure to heat stress has negative effects on postnatal offspring’s performance. These problems may include less skeletal muscle and more fat tissue being deposited during the growth stage. During heat stress, pigs consume less feed and nutrients are allocated more toward fat deposition, rather than protein deposition. High temperatures induce finishing pigs and sows to reduce their intake of both feed and water. If heat stress is present for a prolonged time, pigs will start to drink excessive amounts of water that increases loss of electrolytes. Additionally, the accumulation of acids produced within the animal’s body may cause a loss of acid/ base balance that may eventually result in death. Luigi Moreira Trace Mineral Programme Manager Selko Feed Additives
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==