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Protecting Pigs from the Sun
Michael Fisher, Area Extension Agent - Golden Plains Area
Date:
5/10/2011
Questions? Contact Me
As
I care for my own mild case of sunburn, I thought that this would be a good
time to remind 4-H & FFA youth that show pigs are susceptible to sunburn.
Pigs do not burn as easily as people do, but they are still vulnerable to this
summertime peril. Like us, swine will develop a red, puffy look to their skin
and experience pain when they have received too many of the sun’s UV rays.
They will also back off on their feed intake; which results in lowered gains
and performance.
As I talked about this subject this morning, someone
jokingly asked me, “How much sun tan lotion does it take to cover a
pig?” But the question brings up a good point. Exhibitors in Colorado have
to take a Meat Quality Assurance class and follow best management practices to
show food animals in a 4-H or FFA show. Sunscreen is not approved as a topical
treatment for animals. Therefore, without some kind of off-label prescription
or guidance from a licensed veterinarian, sunscreen is not a legal means of
preventing sunburn on livestock.
The exhibitor needs to look at
management for preventing their swine from getting sunburn. Pigs need some kind
of shelter so that they can get out of the sun. Even a tarp that provides a
shaded area can benefit swine on a sunny day. It is a long standing stereotype
that pigs like to wallow in mud. (Note that I’m referring to a mud puddle
situation and not creating an excuse to forego cleaning the feces out of the
hog pen. Effective management is no excuse for permitting an unsanitary
environment.) There are a couple of reasons that swine enjoy a good mud
puddle.
First, they only have sweat glands in their snout, limiting the
pig’s ability to remove body heat. The mud helps to cool them as the
moisture in the mud evaporates. Secondly, the mud helps to prevent sunburn by
adding a protective layer over their skin. Another management tip is to provide
fresh cool water to keep the pigs hydrated. The water should be located in the
shade. This will help to influence the pig to spend time under shade. Finally,
limit the exposure that your pigs receive from the sun’s UV rays. Ultra
violet rays are typically the most extreme between 10 am and 4 pm. Exercise
your pigs in the morning and evening hours when the UV rays are less
intense.
While any outdoors swine are susceptible to sunburn, show pigs
may have a higher chance of having a problem with it. One of the reasons for
this is that these animals travel more frequently. When you take your pigs to a
show, they need to be in a trailer or pick-up rack that provides shade. The
fact that the vehicle is moving doesn’t prevent sunburn. Another culprit
of the increased levels of sunburn among show pigs is the practice of hair
clipping. Many exhibitors clip the hair on their show pigs to help make them
look cleaner and to more expressively display the pig’s positive muscle
& lean attributes. The fact is that their hair helps to protect them from
the sun. When they are freshly clipped, the chance that sunburn could occur is
increased dramatically. It would be no different than if you shaved your head
and spent the day in the sun with no scalp protection.
I hope that these
suggestions are useful to you and that you have a fun summer working with your
swine project.