Importance of Thermoregulation in Farrowing Houses for Improving Pig Production Efficiency in Korea

Abstract

South Korean summers are hot and humid, negatively affecting the pig industry. This study investigated the effects of season on farrowing rate, litter size, litter per sow per year, and piglets per sow per year on pig farms. The data were collected from local pig farms in Jeongeup-si, South Korea. The four seasons were classified as spring (March-May), summer (June-August), fall (September-November), and winter (December-February). The temperatures of the farrowing houses in summer differed for each of the four pig farms analyzed. Farm 1 and farm 2 regulated their temperatures. In contrast, farm 3 and farm 4 did not control their temperatures. Consequently, the pig production efficiency of farm 1 and farm 2 did not differ between the four seasons. Although the farrowing rate and litter size did not differ with the season, the number of weaning piglets was significantly reduced in the summer on farm 3 and farm 4. In farm 3, the farrowing interval was significantly increased, and the litter per sow per year was the highest in winter. In addition, the litter per sow per year was significantly lower in the summer at farm 4. Furthermore, the number of piglets per sow per year was significantly reduced in the summer at farm 3 and farm 4. These data indicate that the thermoregulation of farrowing houses during the summer is important for efficient pig production in Korea.