34 Pork News & Views Better Pork April 2021 Pork News & Views Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Better Pork | August 2024 50 Years Ago in PNV With reference to our article in this issue on heat stress, it’s worth noting that this topic is one this newsletter has addressed often over the years – It’s not new and it’s not going away. The following is from Jul-Aug 1974: Moving Swine Dangerous in Hot, Humid Weather Hot weather can cause animal deaths. A hog loses excess heat through air movement around the body, radiation from the body and through breathing. When the body produces more heat than can be dispelled, the body temperature rises. At 100°, a hog would have to take 20 more breaths a minute than it would at 80° to cool its body to the same level. The average body heat of a hog is 102.5°. When it reaches 105 to 106°, heat exhaustion and death can occur. A combination of high humidity and high temperature can be especially dangerous for hogs being transported. The number of transit deaths will increase substantially. For this reason, the following are tips to farmers transporting hogs in hot weather. Try to ship the hogs in early morning to avoid the heat of the day. Use a suitable bedding and wet it down before loading. Don't use straw since it tends to act as insulation. Wet sand is more suitable. Always try to minimize stress on the hogs during the various stages of shipping. Limit the number of hogs to allow for freer air circulation. Ensure proper ventilation in the transport vehicle. When stopping for any reason, try to leave the vehicle in the shade or where it can take ad- vantage of air currents As well as lowering swine deaths, these steps will ensure the animals arrive at market in good condition. Agriculture Wellness Ontario (AgWO) AgWO is a suite of three free programs that focus on mental health and well-being, support and education for the Ontario agriculture community. AgWO is managed by CMHA Ontario in partnership with other stakeholders in the agricultural community. In the Know is a mental health literacy program designed spe- cifically for farmers, their families and those who are involved and/ or support the agriculture sector. Through this free, four-hour workshop, participants will cover the topics of stress, depression, anxiety, substance use and how to start a conversation around mental well-being. The Guardian Network is a community of mental health advocates that supports Onta- rio’s farming community. A Guar- dian is an individual who is likely to be in contact with farmers through their work, volunteer activities, or their place in their community. Through Guardi- an Network training, Guardians are equipped with strategies and tools to identify when someone is struggling with their mental health or having thoughts of sui- cide; have constructive conver sations about their struggles and open up the discussion around mental health; and connect individuals with appropriate mental health and crisis resour- ces. The Farmer Wellness Initiative provides Ontario farmers, farm workers and their families with free, unlimited mental health counselling, specific to the uni- que challenges that can be experienced by the agricultural community. For more information on programs and support offered visit AgriculturalWellnessOntario.ca. Farmer Wellness Initiative This program offers Ontario farms with mental health support with free confidential counselling. It is available at 1-866-267-6255, 24hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year, in English and French. Visit FarmerWellnessInitative.ca for more details. For areas outside of Ontario, visit www.domore.ag to find support available, or in a crisis call the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8 https://988,ca/, or 911, or your local emergency department. Managing your well-being on the farm If you or someone you know is looking for help managing stress or a mental health concern, but not ready to sign up for an AgWO program, here are some tips for incorporating wellness and self-care in your daily routine. Stay nourished: Eat balanced meals throughout the day that fuel your body and mind Sleep hygiene: Getting enough sleep is key to feeling energized and alert Stay active: Incorporate move- ment into your day Make time for your hobbies, in- terests and fun: This might include woodworking, garde- ning, outdoor activities, crafts, playing games or sports Talk about your challenges: Lean on your friends and family and engage with supportive commu- nities such as commodity orga- nizations, service organizations
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