With crisp autumn weather and falling temperatures, autumn is traditionally a golden season for pig farming, when pigs grow quickly and feed conversion rates are high. However, the day-to-night temperature gap widens in autumn and pathogens are active. Respiratory diseases, diarrhea, and mosquitoes take turns causing trouble. Meanwhile, expectations of increased demand for cured meat in the fourth quarter are heating up, and market fluctuations can affect producers' confidence. Opportunities and risks coexist. To make the most of the autumn window and improve efficiency, be sure to put the following production-management measures in place.
I. Maintain stable temperatures and control temperature fluctuations, with a focus on preventing stress from day-to-night temperature differences
Autumn days are warm, while mornings and evenings are cool. The temperature difference can easily exceed 10℃, making it a leading cause of stress in pig herds and triggering coughing and wheezing.
Balance ventilation and insulation: open windows moderately during the day to ventilate the housing and remove harmful gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide; close the air inlets promptly at night to prevent cold drafts from blowing directly onto the pigs.
Piglets, replacement gilts, and sows in farrowing rooms are high-risk groups. Provide localized heating to reduce the drop in feed intake and decline in resistance caused by temperature fluctuations.
Adjust the ventilation plan gradually. Avoid making major changes all at once to reduce stress in the herd.
Two. Strengthen disease prevention and control, and closely monitor diseases that are prevalent in autumn.
Autumn is a high-risk period for diseases such as respiratory syndrome, swine influenza, transmissible gastroenteritis, and foot-and-mouth disease. Combined with biosecurity gaps, this can easily lead to co-infections, with losses from deaths and feed wastage occurring quickly.
Carry out disinfection on the farm: Keep housing dry and reduce standing water and manure buildup; rotate disinfectant types, and regularly disinfect passageways, feed troughs, drinking-water lines, and vehicle routes.
Vaccinate according to the immunization schedule. Give priority to booster vaccinations for pig groups with low antibody levels, and reduce stress-inducing procedures such as regrouping, mixing groups, and transportation before and after vaccination.
Strictly control the entry of outside personnel, vehicles, and supplies; maintain zone-based management and cut off routes for pathogens to enter from outside.
During daily inspections, focus on feed intake, demeanor, breathing, and manure. Detect problems early, isolate early, and take action early to prevent minor issues from spreading and affecting the whole herd.
Step three: Optimize nutrition and seize the prime window for weight gain
When temperatures are suitable, pigs use less energy for maintenance, so the same feed can deliver better weight gain. This is also key to reducing costs and improving efficiency.
Adjust the formula according to the pigs’ stage: reasonably increase energy nutrition for finishing pigs to capture growth benefits; focus on supplementing vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant nutrients for sows to maintain reproductive performance and build reserves for subsequent farrowing.
Ensure clean, adequate drinking water and check the drinker flow rate; store feed properly to protect it from moisture and mold. Humidity changes considerably in autumn, making corn and wheat bran highly susceptible to mold. Do not feed moldy ingredients to prevent chronic mycotoxin damage to the liver and kidneys and reduced immunity.
Add health-supporting ingredients reasonably as needed; do not blindly pile on large quantities of products, which could increase breeding costs.
Four. Refine pig herd management and continuously optimize existing production capacity
In line with the current industry-wide direction of optimizing existing capacity and phasing out inefficient capacity, autumn is also a good time to review the herd structure:
Promptly cull aged, low-producing, frail or disabled sows that have not recovered despite prolonged treatment. Reserve feed and housing resources for high-performance breeding pigs to improve overall herd efficiency.
Schedule transfers between groups and deworming appropriately, preferably during the day when temperatures are stable. Follow up deworming with nutritional recovery support.
Maintain records and track key indicators such as feed-to-meat ratio, survival rate, and rate of weight gain to identify management weaknesses on the farm.
Five. Take a rational approach to market timing and manage cash flow
Expectations are rising for the peak demand season for cured meat in the fourth quarter, and many farmers may be tempted to hold back their hogs and wait for prices to rise. While seasonal demand provides a boost, the supply fundamentals remain loose. Do not blindly hold back hogs for a second round of fattening. Develop a sales plan based on your herd’s weight, financing costs, and disease risks. Sell in batches and in an orderly manner to secure your returns and avoid the risk of a market correction.
The golden season of autumn has never been a time to sit back and wait for profits; it is a season when good management delivers results. Maintaining biosecurity, reducing stress, keeping the herd healthy, and planning sales rationally are the keys to protecting profits amid cyclical fluctuations. Taking good care of the herd today will help you respond calmly to market changes ahead.