Influence of Cooling and Heating Systems on Pen Fouling, Lying Behavior, and Performance of Rearing Piglets

Abstract

The rearing of piglets is a demanding phase of pig production partly because of the changing temperature requirements of the piglets during rearing. Piglets need high temperatures in the resting area, especially at the beginning, while the optimal temperature is lower toward the end of rearing. To meet the changing temperature demands of the piglets and also to optimize the pen structure, one floor cooling and two heating systems were examined in this study. In two rearing compartments, four pens with 48 piglets each were equipped with a heated cover above a heated/cooled lying area. The lying behavior and performance of 1152 piglets, in addition to the pen fouling, were recorded over six rearing periods. There was no difference between the two heating systems in the lying behavior. However, the acceptance of the lying area was very high in all pens and periods with heating. The cooling had a significant influence on the lying behavior depending on the rearing week. Significantly more piglets lay on the cooled lying area compared with the control pen during the last weeks. The fouling of the pens was not affected by the cooling or heating systems; however, the fouling in all pens was very low. The tested pen structure in combination with a heating and cooling system is a well-functioning way of integrating a solid lying area.

Lying, Feeding and Activity Preference of Weaned Piglets for LED-Illuminated vs. Dark Pen Compartments

“…Thus, pigs seem to avoid eliminating where they lie if the conditions allow it [ 37 , 38 ]. These findings are in accordance with the studies of Opderbeck et al [ 39 ] and Taylor et al [ 20 ] who found that pigs preferred to defaecate in the brightly lit areas. The ability to minimize soiling to specific areas of the pen offers advantages in terms of air quality in the area where the pigs are staying, as well as manure management.…”

Local Heating through the Application of a Thermoelectric Heat Pump for Prenursery Pigs

“…The most favorable conditions for breeding prenursery pigs can be ensured by the application of combined heating when the heat is transferred to the animals both from the bottom and from overhead with the help of infrared thermal radiation and heated floors, panels or mats [6][7][8][9]. Heating is mainly achieved by the use of either electric resistance heaters or hot water [10][11][12][13]. In order to maintain standard microclimate parameters in animal-breeding premises, a complex energy-saving heat-provision system has been designed, comprising an electric thermal storage (ETS) unit and overhead fan [14].…”