Farrowing is a critical stage in swine production that determines piglet survival rates and producer profitability. While managing sow nutrition and housing conditions has been extensively researched, the focus is shifting to neonatal piglet welfare, particularly the role of heating systems. Evidence suggests precision heating improves piglet health, reduces mortality, and boosts productivity.
Newborn piglets are highly susceptible to hypothermia due to their limited fat reserves and inability to regulate body temperature. Their optimal temperature is 32–34°C (89.6–93.2°F), while sows thrive at significantly cooler temperatures of 18–22°C (64.4–71.6°F) (Le Dividich et al., 2017).
Without proper heating, piglets expend energy to stay warm, resulting in:
- Reduced growth rates.
- Increased risk of mortality.
- Greater susceptibility to disease due to weakened immunity.
Heat Sources in Farrowing Crates: The Science Behind the Options
The traditional choice for heating piglets has been infrared heat lamps, but they come with several limitations:
- Energy Inefficiency: A typical 250-watt heat lamp can consume over 180 kWh per month, leading to high energy bills (Berthon et al., 2022).
- Safety Risks: Heat lamps are associated with barn fires, with 95% of incidents related to electrical faults in heating systems (National Fire Protection Association, 2023).
- Inconsistent Heating: Heat lamps provide uneven warmth, leading to piglet clustering and competition.
A Modern Solution: Hog Hearth Heat Mats
Hog Hearth Heat Mats provide an innovative, energy-efficient alternative to traditional heating systems.
Key Benefits Backed by Research:
- Energy Savings: Heat mats consume approximately 67% less energy than heat lamps, using only 65 watts per mat compared to 250 watts per lamp (Teeple et al., 2023).
- Improved Piglet Survival Rate: According to a study conducted by Poulsgård Frandsen (2020), heating systems around the time of birth increased by 0.3 piglets per litter. This highlights the critical role of temperature management in the immediate post-birth period for enhancing piglet survival rates. This improvement is especially important in environments where piglet hypothermia is a significant risk.
- Litter Weight Gains: Litters raised with heat mats achieved an average weight gain of 1.2 kg more per litter than those with heat lamps (Ogundare et al., 2023).
Join the Conversation: Have you integrated precision heating systems in your farrowing operations? Share your experiences and insights!
#SwineWelfare #FarrowingSuccess #PigletCare #PrecisionHeating
Learn More About Hog Hearth Heat Mats: www.ihtgroup.ca
