Keeping cool

MOSES LAKE — The swine barn at the Grant County Fair is shady and relatively cool compared to outside, and the pigs were dozing in a pile of wood shavings. Nevertheless, the pig was starting to huff and puff.

Jack Gilbert had the spray bottle ready, and aimed a stream of water at the pig’s mouth. The animal lapped it up gratefully.

It’s hot out there at the fair this year; the National Weather Service reported a temperature of 102 degrees in Moses Lake at mid-afternoon Wednesday. If it’s hard for people to keep cool when the thermometer is at triple digits, it’s no easier for animals. So fair competitors have to know how to care for their animals in extreme heat.

“Wet shavings and a fan. That’s pretty much what I use,” said Alyssa McMahan, who was showing cattle.

The beef barns were filled with fans Wednesday afternoon, buzzing full blast. Some competitors added a mister to cool things down. Mike Wallace, superintendent for the beef competition, said it’s important to ensure an adequate supply of water – cattle on exhibit are tied up and can’t get to water on their own.

“And don’t stress them. Let them stay as calm as possible,” Wallace said.

The swine barn has shade curtains, an air circulation system and automatic watering system. Branson Buchanan, on barn duty Wednesday for the Small Town Ranchers 4-H group, explained the automatic watering allows the pigs to drink when they’re thirsty, rather than relying on their owners to keep the water dish filled.

But then, pigs have more trouble regulating heat than cows.

“They can’t sweat like us,” Gilbert said.

So most swine pens had a water bottle hanging on the fence. Cooper Vasquez, who’s also in the Small Town Ranchers, turned the water bottle into a mister, with the drops picked up by the air circulation system and blown over the pen in a steady stream.

The hot weather made the pigs a little cranky; market class competition was Wednesday morning, and some of the pigs clashed in the show ring. Swine Judge Nick Nelson said fair officials made some adjustments in the schedule to accommodate the heat.

“The show is early in the morning while it’s cool, and (judges) try to get done before it gets warm,” Nelson said.

The competitors also play a role in keeping things from getting contentious in the arena.

“A lot of it is also training, and getting those pigs out,” he said. “They’re kind of like an athlete – very much so – so training them and working them. Conditioning,” he said.

There are ways for exhibitors to know their animals are getting overheated. Gilbert said pigs will start to pant, even when they’re lying down. McMahan said cattle will start showing signs of disorientation and lower their heads. Not that she’s ever had to worry about that, she said.

“I’ve never been there,” she said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.