Pig producers with controlled-environment houses have been warned to check their alarm systems during hot weather.
“Many units now have alarm systems to safeguard the welfare of their pigs and these are primarily used to detect situations when the temperature rises if the ventilation fails,” said ARM Buildings’ environmental specialist, Tim Miller (pictured above).
“During the recent heat-wave, I have been inundated with phone calls from pig farmers asking how to turn their alarms off. They are usually set at 32 degrees C, but this temperature has been exceeded during the latest hot spell, with some house temperatures even exceeding 38C.”
Mr Miller (pictured above) doesn’t advise turning the alarms off. Instead, one solution used by many producers is to temporarily reset the alarm at a slightly higher level.
“However, it is very important not to forget to turn the setting down to the normal level when the hot spell subsides,” he added.
“Without air conditioning, of course, it is impossible to lower piggery temperatures below the ambient air temperature, so it is a question of good short-term management.”
