 Introduction
Features
& Technical
Back
See also:
COOLGRO
|
 |
Why Sows Need to be Cooled
Sows are stressed when temperatures exceed 21ºC.
They breathe faster, reduce feed intake, reduce milk production
and produce more stillborn pigs. Under the extreme hot weather
conditions common in Asia, sow deaths occur from heat stress.
COOLsow includes an electronic unit, a temperature probe which
hangs at sow level, a solenoid valve to operate the water
supply and all power connections.
Benefits
During extremely hot weather, or during a sudden
heat wave before sows are acclimatised to high temperature
COOLsow drip cooling systems save lives. COOLsow reduces
respiration rate, keeping sows more comfortable. Stillbirths
are lower. Pigs weigh more at weaning because cooled sows
produce more milk.
How COOLSOW works
COOLsow is flexible. You can set it to turn on
at any temperature you choose between 22ºC and 32ºC.
When this temperature is reached at sow level the system
can be adjusted to drip for one minute in every 5, 10 or
continuously. Wiltronics suggests that the best results
are achieved when the system is set to turn on at 24ºC
and run for 1 minute in 10. When the temperature falls below
the temperature that you have set, the COOLsow controller
will turn the cooling system off.
Field trial results from drip cooling sows using COOLSow during
summer.
| |
Drip
cooled |
Control |
| No. of sows |
96 |
112 |
| Born alive |
10.8 |
10.7 |
| Born dead/litter |
0.23 |
0.33 |
| Litter weight weaned (kg) |
62.6 |
59.2 |
| Pig weight weaned (kg) |
7.2 |
6.8 |
| Pig growth weight (g/day) |
196 |
181 |
Breaths/min
(at 31°C shed temp) |
38 |
68 |
(Shepparton, Australia)
View Features and
Technical Details >
|
