 |
Avoiding Sunburn in Pigs
 With summer fast approaching, one of the main problems with outdoor pigs during hot weather is the risk of sunburn, particularly for white, non-pigmented breeds.
The symptoms are similar to those in humans, with rapid reddening of the skin and considerable pain. Severe cases can result in oedema and oozing of serum, which can lead to secondary bacterial infection.
In breeding herds sunburn can be a major contributory factor to poor reproductive performance. Sows with sunburn often refuse to stand for the boar at mating and ultra-violet radiation not only damages the skin, but can cause embryo absorption and abortions in some susceptible breeds. Allowing pigs to become sunburnt has both financial and welfare implications, therefore suitable precautions, such as the provision of wallows and shade should be taken to prevent the problem occurring.
Mud wallows should be provided for all outdoor pigs. All that is normally required is a suitable sized hole, depending on the number of pigs it has to cater for, and a hose pipe or overflowing water trough. Pigs will bathe in the wallow, coating their skin in a layer of durable mud, protecting it from sunburn for a period of time.
Wallows should be checked regularly and maintained to ensure that a plentiful supply of mud is always available. However, it is also essential to provide pigs with adequate shade in the form of appropriately sized huts or arks, particularly in farrowing paddocks. If a sow spends too long in the wallow, leaving her piglets unattended for long periods, they may suffer and die. Therefore it is vital to ensure that the inside of the hut or ark is as cool and inviting as possible so there is no reason for the sow to not want to be there with her litter.
|
|
|
|
|