{"id":56853,"date":"2019-07-30T22:00:36","date_gmt":"2019-07-30T22:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zinpro.com\/performance-trace-minerals-help-reduce-the-effects-of-heat-stress-in-swine\/"},"modified":"2023-08-16T12:08:32","modified_gmt":"2023-08-16T17:08:32","slug":"performance-trace-minerals-help-reduce-the-effects-of-heat-stress-in-swine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zinpro.com\/en_na\/resource-center\/blog\/performance-trace-minerals-help-reduce-the-effects-of-heat-stress-in-swine\/","title":{"rendered":"Performance Trace Minerals Help Reduce the Effects of Heat Stress in Swine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although\nheat stress in hogs causes hundreds of millions of dollars in losses each year,\nresearch on performance trace minerals has helped cool some of producers\u2019\nfears.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lance Baumgard, Ph.D., of Iowa State University, estimates heat stress causes an estimated $900 million per year in swine production and finishing losses<\/a>. In fact, Baumgard calls heat stress \u201cthe greatest threat to efficient animal-protein production worldwide.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heat\nstress is measured using a heat index, a combination of heat and humidity. In\nswine, the\nthermo-neutral zone for pigs can range from 64\u00b0 F (18\u00b0 C) to 75\u00b0 F (24\u00b0 C),\ndepending on the animal\u2019s size, physiological status, air movement and flooring\ntype.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All\nmammals (including humans) can experience heat stress. However, pigs\u2019 inability\nto cool themselves via sweating, plus their thick layer of adipose fat tissue\nand a high percentage of lean muscle mass, makes them especially susceptible to\nthe condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaky Gut Leads to Inflammation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Swine\nreact to heat by diverting blood from the intestinal tract to the extremities and skin in order to help\ndissipate heat. In addition, swine will increase respiration rate trying to rid\nitself of the excess heat from the respiratory process. Blood vessels in the gastrointestinal\ntract constrict, reducing the oxygen flow to the epithelial cells that line the\ngastrointestinal tract and try and maintain tight junctions to prevent toxins from\npassing into bloodstream. When tight junctions between the enterocytes become\ndamaged by oxygen free radicals and a lack of energy due to lower blood flows for\nthe enterocytes can cause the tight junctions to break down allowing the\nparacellular pathway to allow harmful substances from the lumen of the gut to\nget into the blood stream. The resulting condition is known as \u201cleaky gut.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toxins\nleaking into the bloodstream cause an inflammatory response that decreases\nappetite and increases body temperature \u2014 two things that can negatively impact\na sows\u2019 reproductive system. Heat stress also causes pigs to release more\ninsulin and increases fatty acid breakdown\ntrying to help supply an energy source to the cells of the body. A reduction in\nfeed intake is especially bad for lactating sows, since lactation requires\nlarge amounts of energy and nutrients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Performance Trace Minerals Help With Heat Stress Management <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Studies show that effective supplementation of trace minerals can help overcome heat stress in pigs and a decline in performance. Performance trace minerals such as Zinpro\u00ae<\/sup> Availa\u00ae<\/sup> Zn<\/a> promote tight junctions between the enterocytes and improve epithelial linings in the digestive tract. Not only does Availa-Zn improve intestinal integrity but also reduces the amount of harmful toxins that get through to the blood system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also,\nthere are differences in the inflammatory signals between zinc sources. Availa-Zn\nimproves the increase of lipopolysaccharides\nbinding proteins (actus phase proteins) compared to the zinc sulfate. When\ninflammation is controlled, appetite remains normal. Blood and nutrients are\navailable for the sow to use for gestation and lactation, rather than for an\nimmune response to the inflammation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A study conduct by\nBaumgard at Iowa State University demonstrates that heat-stressed pigs given zinc\nfrom Availa-Zn experience superior performance benefits compared to pigs\nsupplemented with zinc sulfate (ZnSO4<\/sub>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n