How do Brazilian
pig producers deal with heat stress?
BY DANIEL AZEVEDO O
smar Dalla Costa, researcher at Embrapa Pigs and Poultry, and Felipe Dalla Costa, consultant at Maneja Consultoria, present an overview regard- ing how Brazilian producers are able to face the
tropical weather threat and keep productivity.
How do you assess the impact of heat stress on Brazilian pig farming? Osmar Dalla Costa: “The impact of heat stress was greater in the past. Currently, with the modernisation and adaptation of facilities, it decreased. However, it is still relevant in the growth and termination phases. The facilities for primary stag- es of pregnancy, maternity and nursery are air-conditioned, exactly when tolerance of thermal effect is less. In other words, Brazilian producers worked hard in the early stages. We can say that Brazilian pig farming has evolved a lot in thermal stress, both for heat and cold. Often the facilities are even bet- ter in terms of environmental control than the producers’ houses. This is very clear in swine productivity indexes in Bra- zil. There is an evolution in live births, higher weaning weight, lower mortality and greater feed conversion.”
How do pig farmers usually face the high temperatures in the summer and heat waves? Felipe Dalla Costa: “When a pig farmer does not have air-con- ditioned facilities or modern ambience, he has greater diffi- culty. In these cases, they often use equipment such as nebu- lisers, air circulation techniques, wet the roof of the barn, paint the roof with white paint or isothermal coating, curtain handling, evaporative plates, to name a few. But there are still cases where the only resort is to wet the animals. Whoever is building a new farm today, starts with air conditioning. The older facilities continue to use traditional systems, but many of them have also evolved and moved with the times. As the cost of advanced facilities decreased, modernisation became more accessible and producers began to see more benefits. Every time you improve environmental conditions, animal’s convert their feed better which in turn increases productivity.”
▶ HEAT STRESS | MAY 2021 29
How high can the temperatures reach in Brazil? ODC: “It can reach 40 °C throughout Brazil, even in temperate areas, in the south of the country. To give you an idea, the ideal temperature for animals is between 24 °C and 22 °C. This varies according to the animal’s phase, as well as the relative humidity of the air. In any case, the problem is not the outside temperature, but the thermal comfort inside the building.”
Are there any cases of deaths due to heat stress? ODC: “Poultry are more sensitive to heat stress. In the case of pigs, there is hardly any mortality due to thermal stress. Mortality can occur on trucks during transportation operations in specific situations. For example, if a truck breaks down and the herd is stopped on a very hot day for long periods. But it is very rare.”
Are there any notable innovations on that theme? If yes, what are they? FDC: “There are technologies and innovations out there. Among them air conditioning, negative pressure, forced ventilation, coolers, automated curtain, evaporative plate and other techniques that favour air circulation. Today automation
Brazil is well-known for warm weather and large pig production, it’s the 4th main producer in the world. Despite different regions in the country, temperatures can easily reach 40°C and not every farmer is prepared to face a strong summer or heat waves.
Forced ventilation is a strategy used inside newer sheds to face high temperatures all over the country.
PHOTOS: DANIEL AZEVEDO
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