As autumn brings clear, crisp weather and temperatures fall, it is traditionally a golden season for pig farming, with pigs growing quickly and feed conversion rates high. But in autumn, the day–night temperature gap widens and pathogens become more active. Respiratory diseases, diarrhea, and mosquitoes take turns causing problems. Meanwhile, expectations of increased preserved-meat consumption in the fourth quarter heat up, and market fluctuations unsettle producers. Opportunities and risks go hand in hand. To make the most of the autumn window and improve efficiency, these production management measures must be put in place.
I. Stabilize temperatures and control temperature swings, with a focus on preventing day–night temperature stress
In autumn, days are warm and mornings and evenings are cool. The temperature difference can easily exceed 10℃, making it a primary cause of stress in pig herds and a trigger for coughing and wheezing.
Balance ventilation and insulation: Open windows moderately during the day to vent harmful gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide from the pig houses. Close air inlets promptly at night to keep cold drafts from blowing directly onto the pigs.
Piglets, replacement gilts, and sows in the farrowing room are high-risk groups. Provide localized heating to reduce the drops in feed intake and resistance caused by temperature swings.
Adjust the ventilation plan gradually. Avoid making drastic changes all at once to reduce stress reactions in the herd.
II. Strengthen biosecurity and keep a close eye on diseases that are prevalent in autumn
Autumn is a peak season for respiratory syndrome, swine influenza, transmissible gastroenteritis, foot-and-mouth disease, and other illnesses. Combined with biosecurity gaps, this can easily lead to mixed infections, with losses from animal deaths and feed wastage occurring quickly.
Carry out disinfection on the farm: keep pens dry and reduce standing water and accumulated manure; rotate disinfectant types, and regularly disinfect key areas, including passageways, feed troughs, water lines, and vehicle access routes.
Vaccinate according to the established immunization program. Prioritize booster vaccinations for groups with low antibody levels, and minimize stress-inducing activities such as moving, mixing, and transporting pigs before and after vaccination.
Strictly control the entry of outside personnel, vehicles, and supplies. Maintain zone-based management to block routes by which external pathogens could enter.
During daily barn checks, focus on feed intake, demeanor, breathing, and feces. Detect issues early, isolate early, and take action early to prevent minor problems from spreading into an outbreak affecting the whole herd.
Three. Optimize Nutrient Supply and Seize the Golden Window for Weight Gain
With suitable temperatures, pigs use less energy for maintenance, so the same feed can produce better weight gain. This is also key to reducing costs and improving efficiency.
Adjust formulas according to the pigs’ growth stage: for finishing pigs, reasonably increase energy nutrition to capitalize on growth potential; for sows, focus on supplementing vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to maintain reproductive performance and build reserves for subsequent farrowing.
Ensure that drinking water is clean and sufficient, and check the flow rate of the waterers. Store feed properly and protect it from moisture and mold. Humidity fluctuates greatly in autumn, and corn and wheat bran are particularly prone 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 stack large quantities of products, to avoid increasing farming costs.
IV. Refine herd management and continuously optimize existing production capacity
In line with the current industry-wide trend of optimizing existing capacity and phasing out inefficient capacity, autumn is also a good time to review herd structure:
Promptly cull aged, low-producing, and weak or disabled sows that have not recovered despite prolonged treatment, reserving feed and housing resources for high-performancebreeding pigs, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the breeding herd.
Arrange transfers between groups and deworming appropriately. Preferably carry out these tasks during the day when temperatures are stable, and follow up with nutritional recovery after deworming.
Keep accurate 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. Make rational decisions about market timing and manage cash flow
Expectations for the peak cured-meat consumption season in the fourth quarter are continuing to build. Many farmers may be tempted to hold back pigs from sale and gamble on market prices. While peak-season demand may provide a boost, the supply fundamentals remain loose. Do not blindly hold pigs for a second round of fattening. Develop a marketing plan based on the weight of your own herd, financing costs, and disease risks; sell in orderly batches, secure your returns, and avoid the risk of a market pullback.
The golden period in autumn has never been a season for sitting back and waiting to make money; it is a season when good management drives returns. Only by maintaining strong biosecurity, reducing stress, raising healthy pigs, and planning sales rationally can you protect profits amid cyclical fluctuations. Focus on raising the pigs you have now to face future market changes with confidence.
I. Stabilize temperatures and control temperature swings, with a focus on preventing day–night temperature stress
In autumn, days are warm and mornings and evenings are cool. The temperature difference can easily exceed 10℃, making it a primary cause of stress in pig herds and a trigger for coughing and wheezing.
Balance ventilation and insulation: Open windows moderately during the day to vent harmful gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide from the pig houses. Close air inlets promptly at night to keep cold drafts from blowing directly onto the pigs.
Piglets, replacement gilts, and sows in the farrowing room are high-risk groups. Provide localized heating to reduce the drops in feed intake and resistance caused by temperature swings.
Adjust the ventilation plan gradually. Avoid making drastic changes all at once to reduce stress reactions in the herd.
II. Strengthen biosecurity and keep a close eye on diseases that are prevalent in autumn
Autumn is a peak season for respiratory syndrome, swine influenza, transmissible gastroenteritis, foot-and-mouth disease, and other illnesses. Combined with biosecurity gaps, this can easily lead to mixed infections, with losses from animal deaths and feed wastage occurring quickly.
Carry out disinfection on the farm: keep pens dry and reduce standing water and accumulated manure; rotate disinfectant types, and regularly disinfect key areas, including passageways, feed troughs, water lines, and vehicle access routes.
Vaccinate according to the established immunization program. Prioritize booster vaccinations for groups with low antibody levels, and minimize stress-inducing activities such as moving, mixing, and transporting pigs before and after vaccination.
Strictly control the entry of outside personnel, vehicles, and supplies. Maintain zone-based management to block routes by which external pathogens could enter.
During daily barn checks, focus on feed intake, demeanor, breathing, and feces. Detect issues early, isolate early, and take action early to prevent minor problems from spreading into an outbreak affecting the whole herd.
Three. Optimize Nutrient Supply and Seize the Golden Window for Weight Gain
With suitable temperatures, pigs use less energy for maintenance, so the same feed can produce better weight gain. This is also key to reducing costs and improving efficiency.
Adjust formulas according to the pigs’ growth stage: for finishing pigs, reasonably increase energy nutrition to capitalize on growth potential; for sows, focus on supplementing vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to maintain reproductive performance and build reserves for subsequent farrowing.
Ensure that drinking water is clean and sufficient, and check the flow rate of the waterers. Store feed properly and protect it from moisture and mold. Humidity fluctuates greatly in autumn, and corn and wheat bran are particularly prone 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 stack large quantities of products, to avoid increasing farming costs.
IV. Refine herd management and continuously optimize existing production capacity
In line with the current industry-wide trend of optimizing existing capacity and phasing out inefficient capacity, autumn is also a good time to review herd structure:
Promptly cull aged, low-producing, and weak or disabled sows that have not recovered despite prolonged treatment, reserving feed and housing resources for high-performancebreeding pigs, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the breeding herd.
Arrange transfers between groups and deworming appropriately. Preferably carry out these tasks during the day when temperatures are stable, and follow up with nutritional recovery after deworming.
Keep accurate 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. Make rational decisions about market timing and manage cash flow
Expectations for the peak cured-meat consumption season in the fourth quarter are continuing to build. Many farmers may be tempted to hold back pigs from sale and gamble on market prices. While peak-season demand may provide a boost, the supply fundamentals remain loose. Do not blindly hold pigs for a second round of fattening. Develop a marketing plan based on the weight of your own herd, financing costs, and disease risks; sell in orderly batches, secure your returns, and avoid the risk of a market pullback.
The golden period in autumn has never been a season for sitting back and waiting to make money; it is a season when good management drives returns. Only by maintaining strong biosecurity, reducing stress, raising healthy pigs, and planning sales rationally can you protect profits amid cyclical fluctuations. Focus on raising the pigs you have now to face future market changes with confidence.