By Blake Jackson
The University of Missouri is advancing a research-driven mobile application designed to help pork producers identify heat stress risks in pigs before visible warning signs appear.
Supported by a $1.15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jay Johnson, associate professor in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, will expand the capabilities of HotHog, a smartphone app developed to provide producers with early heat stress alerts.
Pigs are highly sensitive to heat because they cannot sweat like humans. High temperatures can negatively affect animal welfare, reduce growth rates, impact reproductive performance, and increase the risk of livestock losses.
“By the time you start seeing your pigs panting, they've already been impacted," Johnson said. "The goal of the app is to help producers make management decisions before animals reach that point. That not only improves the welfare of their animals but also the economic outlook of the pork production industry, which is huge in Missouri.”
Since its launch in 2023, HotHog has gained more than 2,000 users in over 50 countries. The app provides producers with location-based forecasts and alerts, helping them prepare for dangerous heat conditions.
“Whether it’s checking ventilation systems, adjusting water sprinklers or planning transportation timelines, this app helps producers be more proactive instead of reactive, which ultimately improves the efficiency of their operations,” Johnson said.
“Users can enter multiple barn locations and receive notifications from the app when conditions are expected to reach certain risk levels.”
Unlike standard weather applications, HotHog analyzes temperature and humidity combinations to determine how conditions affect different groups of pigs.
“The app also provides management recommendations tailored to pigs at different stages of pregnancy, as weather conditions don’t impact all pigs the same way,” Johnson said.
"The algorithms running in the background on the app are going to be very specific to the animals of interest to pork producers.”
The USDA-funded project will expand the app beyond sows to include recently weaned pigs and pigs nearing market weight. Researchers will use Mizzou facilities, including the Animal Science Research Center and a new thermocline facility, to study pig behavior under controlled temperatures.
The project also includes global research partnerships and outreach efforts through MU Extension to help producers adopt the technology.
"The app is free because we want it to be as accessible as possible,” Johnson said. "Welfare and production go hand in hand. That's the number one priority of producers: making sure their animals are in a positive welfare state. As part of that, we hope to see production efficiency improve as well."
Photo Credit: istock-srdjan-stepic
Categories: Missouri, Education, Livestock, Hogs