HotHog 1.3.2

The HotHog platform offers predictive assessments of thermal comfort and stress levels in sows at various stages of gestation—non-pregnant, mid-gestation, and late-gestation—based on a decision support tool developed through a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant. This tool was created collaboratively by researchers from the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the University of Illinois, and Purdue University.

Key features of HotHog include:

• Thermal index categories ranging from: cool, comfortable, and warm to mild heat stress, moderate heat stress, and severe heat stress.
• Ability for users to select specific geographical locations or utilize their current location for localized predictions.
• Provision of hourly and daily temperature forecasts along with daily precipitation estimates.
• Access to information on physiological and behavioral responses associated with each thermal index category, accessible via a dedicated pig icon.
• Management guidance and mitigation strategies linked to each thermal index, available through a fan icon.
• The option to customize thermal index parameters by inputting temperature, gestation stage, and humidity levels using the create icon (represented by a paper and pencil).
• A settings menu accessed via the gear icon, enabling users to: 1) update their profile, 2) adjust preferences such as display mode or temperature units, 3) review the development background of the decision support tool and HotHog, 4) access considerations for tool usage, and 5) report issues or inquiries related to swine thermal stress.