Hogetemperature

Hogetemperature is a term used in animal welfare and agricultural engineering to describe the effective temperature experienced by hogs in housing environments. It is a composite metric that combines environmental conditions with the animals' metabolic heat production to indicate relative comfort or potential heat stress.

The term blends "hog" (a common term for domestic pigs) with "temperature," and is sometimes abbreviated HT. It appears in farm management literature and is discussed as a practical tool for assessing thermal conditions in pig housing.

Hogetemperature is typically derived from data on ambient air temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, and solar radiation, along with estimates of metabolic heat production from the pigs according to age, breed, and activity level. The index can be expressed as a dimensionless value or converted to a temperature-equivalent scale, depending on the system.

Farmers and researchers use hogetemperature to guide ventilation rates, cooling strategies, and drinking water access. By comparing HT to predefined comfort thresholds, operators can adjust fans, sprinklers, or shading to prevent heat stress and maintain welfare standards.

Because HT is not a universally standardized index, its interpretation varies by housing design, climate, breed, and production stage. Calibration and local validation are often required before HT is used for decision making.

Related concepts include the temperature–humidity index, heat stress in pigs, and animal welfare indicators. Hogetemperature remains a practical, context-dependent tool rather than a universal scientific standard.