Beat the Heat: Strategies to Protect Pig Performance

Summer heat can have a major impact on pig comfort, feed intake, growth performance, and overall barn efficiency. In this episode of the SwineTime Podcast, host Dr. Spencer Wayne is joined by Dr. Joseph Yaros, Pipestone veterinarian and Director of the FarmPro Team, to discuss proven strategies producers can use to reduce heat stress and keep pigs performing during the hottest months of the year.

Using the acronym SUMMER, Dr. Yaros outlines the key areas swine producers should focus on when preparing barns for hot weather. The conversation begins with the importance of properly configured stir fans and how strategic airflow can help maintain more consistent barn temperatures. The discussion then moves to updating ventilation controller settings, including adjusting bandwidths and fan staging to improve cooling efficiency during summer conditions.

The hosts also cover the proper use of misters and evaporative cooling systems, explaining why timing, duration, and pig size all play a role in achieving the desired cooling effect. Listeners will learn why simply adding more water is not always the answer and how improper mister settings can create excessive humidity and reduce cooling effectiveness.

Additional topics include maximizing airflow through functional fans, identifying ventilation bottlenecks, and understanding the concept of desired room temperature versus controller set point. Dr. Yaros explains how maintaining cooler conditions can encourage pigs to eat more feed, increase water intake, and support improved average daily gain throughout the finishing period.

The episode also highlights the importance of emergency preparedness, including testing generators, backup thermostats, alarm systems, temperature probes, and emergency curtain drops. As temperatures rise, equipment failures can quickly become critical, making routine maintenance and system checks essential for protecting animal welfare and preventing losses.

Whether you manage nurseries, finishers, or sow farms, this episode delivers practical, field-tested advice on heat stress prevention, swine barn ventilation, summer pig care, airflow management, emergency planning, and pig performance optimization. Tune in to learn how small adjustments to your ventilation and cooling strategies can help keep pigs comfortable, healthy, and growing all summer long.