Stress levels in pigs increase if they become too warm, resulting in them eating and growing less, according to research from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research.
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Pigs with access to cooling systems, such as floor cooling, sprinkling or water baths, remained cool and grew better, concluded the study. It said confined pigs tend not to lose body heat efficiently and their wellbeing is strongly dependent on ambient temperature.
Researchers noted that at temperatures above 19C the animals lay down on a slatted floor, ate less, wallowed in urine and became inactive. Pigs cannot actively sweat and evaporation of water from their lungs is limited.
