Large-scale pig farmers and integrators are now installing misting systems to cool their farrowing houses as standard, in response to the record temperatures caused by climate change, according to ARM Buildings.
Most systems involve misting water at high pressure with nozzles directing the vapour into the incoming air. “Misting systems are easy to fit and while I have had many calls from farmers without them, there have been very few issues of heat stress on farms where they are already in operation,” said Tim Miller, environmental specialist with ARM Buildings.
“From £100 per sow for a small house to as little as £40 per sow for a large multi-room building, it’s a no-brainer, considering the welfare and productivity benefits the cooling system brings in hot weather,” says
Explaining how they work, he said the mist is too fine to wet the house but reduces the temperature as it evaporates.
“I recently visited a farrowing house when the ambient temperature was 32⁰C but the room temperature was 28⁰C,“ he said. “Due to the ease of fitting, farmers can install the equipment themselves, in many cases using the existing Dicam controls to operate the system.”
He pointed out that if misting is used only a few times a year, then the huge welfare benefits far outweigh the initial cost. Any productivity improvements – such as better weaning weights resulting from sows retaining their appetites – are a bonus.
Farmers without cooling systems can mitigate problems by wetting the fabric of the building, especially concrete passageways, and upping the ventilation. “Some farmers use their pressure washers in front of the inlets to cool the incoming air but, obviously, care needs to be taken to avoid fans and other electrical equipment,” said Mr Miller.