Temperatures in the Nineties this week in the Northern Plains could cause heat stress in hogs. SDSU Extension Swine Specialist Dr. Bob Thaler says the rapid change in temperature and the backlog of pork giving more animals for producers to deal with will create some challenges.

He says pork producers need to make sure their sprinkling systems and ventilators are working properly and that there aren’t any loose belts that could lead to tragic circumstances.

Thaler says they have an important tool producers can access at the SDSU Extension website that outlines when heat stress is likely to occur.

Thaler says because pork producers are dealing with more animals that are bunched together, that creates more challenges for dealing with the heat. He says therefore producers need to be prepared and may have to put in some type of temporary composting system.

Thaler says because producers have been under so much pressure themselves lately it’s also important to look out for each other and have a conversation with your neighbor if you think he or she might be overly stressed.