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Abstract. Thermal stress in swine is widely regarded as the key limiting factor in modern commercial hog production. Present methods of alleviating overheating are unsatisfactory for various reasons. Researchers at Purdue University have developed an active cooling panel for swine in farrowing crates. The device uses ground water through a cooling loop beneath an aluminum tread plate. Initial results with live animals are extremely promising and were able to eliminate the symptoms of heat stress in animals deliberately placed in extreme environments. This document describes the device and the history of development to this point.