How dietary fibre can tackle heat stress in sows

Heat stress is not only of interest for swine producers in countries with tropical or sub-tropical areas. Even in temperate latitudes, at least for a few weeks per year, sub-optimal climatic conditions occur. How can sows be better prepared for the heat? When talking about heat stress, it is important to realise that it is not only the temperature that affects humans or animals; it is a function of ambient temperature and relative humidity. Figure 1 demonstrates that the risk of pigs suffering