Disease doesn’t discriminate seasons. As summer approaches and temperatures rise, so does the importance of preparing for the heat wave ahead. Carthage System’s Chief Operating Officer Shaun McGinn, who oversees day-to-day management of Professional Swine Management (PSM) farms, offers some key points to keep your operation running smoothly during the hot summer months.
Maintenance reminders
Top priorities on PSM’s farms’ summer-prep checklist include checking generators for repairs and preventive maintenance; inspecting outdoor watering systems and preparing them to turn back on after a long winter shutoff; and making sure the barn cool cells are ready to deploy, McGinn says. These cells are especially important in keeping the barns cool and, in fact, may make a difference of as much as 20 degrees Fahrenheit on a steaming summer day.
Part of your preparation should be to make sure those are up and running before they’re needed. This means replacing any broken water lines from the winter, as well as other worn parts, and running disinfectant or algaecide through the cells to ensure cleanliness and longevity. Also, check there are no holes in the pads and do a test run of the cool cells.
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