For swine, access to clean and fresh water should be readily available within the pig pen to assist with healthy body functions, including regulating their body temperature, helping nutrients travel throughout the body, and removing toxins. Pigs need water along with their feed to provide additional nutrients that are particularly important in the summer. Among other benefits, water also aids in digestion, lubricates, and protects internal organs. 

(Using an automatic pig watering system—such as an efficient swine watering system or hog cup waterers—can help achieve swine water waste reduction and is often considered one of the best waterers for hog farms.)

Here, we offer a practical guide to watering your pigs to keep them healthy, happy, and productive for your farm.

Pigs need to maintain age-appropriate water weight. For example, piglets are 80% water, and by the time they reach adulthood, this drops to just 50%. Use this chart as your watering guide:

(Lactating sow water requirements increase in hot weather, producers often explore summer hog hydration tips and cooling water system for pigs to ensure proper intake.)

Because finisher pigs increase water consumption in the heat, be sure to provide more water once the temperature reaches 77° F.  Also, lactating sows’ milk is about 80% water, so they require clean, cool drinking water to help with milk production, especially during the first five days after farrowing.

Pig watering systems make it easier to water swine efficiently. However, you need to consider the class of pig or hog to choose the best watering system. For example, sows prefer high-flow systems as they produce about half a gallon of water a minute, allowing them to meet their required volume easily and efficiently. 

(When comparing different setups, some producers perform a swine waterer comparison: cup vs nipple, especially if they are considering a swine cup watering system for benefits of cup waterers for pigs and how to reduce water waste in swine production.)

However, lactating sows require drinking sessions ranging from 12 to 23 minutes to get enough water throughout the day. Choose a watering system that keeps up with requirements based on the number of pigs and their age/life stage using the following recommended flow rates:

(Ensuring proper flow rates for pig watering systems can also support medication efficiency in swine production by preventing over dilution or overuse of water.)

Pigs prefer cool drinking water, especially in hot weather. The ideal water temperature is below 60° F. Since hot weather will raise water temperatures, and pigs require more water in hot conditions, it’s best to factor this in and choose a cooling water system for pigs that will keep up with increasing summer demand.  

Also, when it gets hot, sows and their piglets tend to be lazy, meaning they might not bother to seek water. When this happens, sows produce less nutritious milk, which in turn impacts the piglets. With this in mind, it’s important to check your sows on hot days and encourage them to drink.

Water Access

Place water drinking systems, water troughs, or water nipples in an area where all pigs have access. The drinkers should be about 2 inches above the shoulder of the smallest pig in the pen, at snout level. 

You also have to keep it high enough off the ground to reduce the risk of breaking. (Installing an affordable swine watering system while maintaining easy access can ensure swine water waste reduction and help manage a manure management system for swine more effectively.)

Maintain Water Quality for Your Pigs

Test your water supply for the following to ensure it is suitable for drinking:

• Turbidity or cloudiness to detect possible bacteria
• Color to detect dangerous particles
• Odor that might indicate bacterial contamination, pathogens, or the presence of compounds such as sulfur
• Total dissolved solids (TDS) to ensure salinity is 1,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L)
• Water pH to measure acidity or alkalinity, which should be between 6.5 to 8.5
• Hardness based on the level of calcium & magnesium to avoid damage to your watering system  

Using water-saving livestock equipment like a swine cup watering system can also reduce pollution concerns while improving overall water quality management.

Cooling systems help reduce the risk for pigs that can be compromised by high temperatures.  Because pigs don’t sweat, they rely on things such as air movement and cooling water to avoid overheating. Recommended ambient temperatures are as follows:

As summer approaches, check your watering and cooling system to ensure it is ready for drinking. There should also be enough drinkers for the number of pigs you have per pen. You can also ensure clean water by doing the following:

• Set drinker flow rates properly
• Clean out troughs & bowl drinkers at least once a week
• Bury water pipes at least 2 feet below the soil to keep them cool
• Test your water
• Service your water pumps & backup

How to Keep Pigs’ Water From Freezing

Because the pigs’ water will freeze in the colder months, a good rule of thumb is to drop an electric stock tank de-icer into the water source. Also, if you have metal pig nipples, carefully insert a copper wire or six-penny nail into the back of the stem valve to help prevent freezing.

Using this pig watering guide will ensure your pigs get enough water, stay cool in the summer, and won’t have to worry about freezing water supplies in the winter. Happy pigs all year round.

Here at QC Supply, we offer a large line of Hog Watering Systems perfect for your pig barns, all from the brands you trust, like Suevia, Hogflo, Trojan, Aguaglobe, Little Giant, and more!

If you need further assistance, give our staff a call at 888-433-5275. Did we miss any important watering tips perfect for your hogs? Tell us in the comments section!