Mobile App Calculates Heat Stress in Livestock, Poultry

Jun 14, 2013

Mobile App Calculates Heat Stress in Livestock, Poultry

With summer temperatures on the way, heat stress detection in livestock and poultry is important. The University of Guelph and the Ontario Minister of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) created a free app called Heat Stress for farmers available through Google Play and Blackberry Marketplace that allows producers to measure the level of heat stress experienced by livestock and poultry. The app was launched April 4, 2013.

The following are the key features of the app:

• Comes in three different languages – English, French and Spanish
• Seven types of livestock and poultry options - dairy cattle, beef cattle, hogs, chickens (layer, broiler and breeder), turkeys, sheep and goats
• Measures 5% increments for humidity changes
• Measures 2 degree increment temperature changes (metric/imperial)
• Identifies levels of stress from “No Heat Stress” to “Emergency”
• Outlines practical actions to reduce the effects of heat stress
• The mobile app combines research and production information for best results

Video: Season 6, Episode 12: Veterinarians’ Perspectives on Managing Swine Herd Health Across All Phases

Identifying challenges in swine production and turning them into solutions through research and team development is the focus of this episode. Dr. Christine Mainquist-Whigham of Pillen Family Farms and DNA Genetics shares insights on herd health, biosecurity and trial work to improve pig performance. She also discusses her team’s research philosophy, how they evaluate rate of investment and how they gather feedback from employees to address challenges and maintain herd health across all phases of production. Dr. Carlos Roudergue of Country View Family Farms discusses the growing complexity of swine production, especially as technology increases and employee interaction decreases. He also shares how their workforce is shifting toward more specialized roles to support herd health and efficiency.