Sows and Piglets Thermal Comfort: A Comparative Study of the Tiles Used in the Farrowing Housing

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The global animal production is increasing as expected to meet world demand for food, especially for meat products. This research aimed to investigate the effect of two types of roofs (clay and fiber-cement tiles) in a tropical area on the thermal comfort of farrowing sows and piglets. Twelve sows and forty-eight piglets were observed during summer in the Southeast region of Brazil. Climate variables, thermal comfort and surface temperature (sows and piglets) were assessed. The type of roofs clearly affected the piglets' surface temperature during all studied periods, but the results were not similar in the sows' surface temperature. Temperature and humidity index found was high in the building with fiber-cement tiles. The pen location in the housing also influenced the piglet surface temperature. Controlling temperature fluctuation in piglet housing is crucial; therefore, providing adequate rearing environment in tropical condition might help pig productivity as well as farmer profitability.

Monitoring and Characterization of the Thermal Environment of Special-Use Buildings

“…Pigs show maximum performance when housed in comfortable thermal environments; the right environment is at a temperature range in which the thermal regulation processes are minimal [14], [49]- [51]. The variation in the indoor temperature values of pigpens for the time studied (Figs.…”

Machine Learning-Based Microclimate Model for Indoor Air Temperature and Relative Humidity Prediction in a Swine Building

“…The pigs are more sensitive to indoor climatic parameters than all other livestock, so that a constant temperature and humidity are the essential factors for their routine activities. In general, 16–25 °C of indoor temperature and 60–80% of indoor humidity are considered the optimal environment for pigs; such an environment is called a thermo-neutral zone (TNZ) [ 4 , 5 ]. The TNZ provides the welfare of animals, resulting in enhancing the voluntary feed intake and minimizing thermal and other environmental stress [ 6 ].…”

Assessment of spatial variability of environmental conditions in different swine production typologies in tropical conditions

“…In swine production, correctly planning a shelter's design and construction can guarantee the animals space according to their vital requirements, welfare and ensure efficient meat production. (Kiefer et al 2010;Machado et al 2016;Cecchin et al 2018;. Pigs are considered homoeothermic animals; this means that they withstand specific body temperature conditions, when that value exceeds the limit, the animal begins to have behavior and health problems (Barreto et al 2010;Barbari & Conti 2009).…”

“…The thermal environment directly influences the heat exchange between the pig and its surrounding environment. The main variables that positively or negatively affect the environment are temperature, air velocity, illumination, gases concentration, and relative humidity Machado et al 2016). For animal species, there is a thermal environment where maximum productivity occurs, characterized by these variables, that desirable condition is called the "thermal comfort-zone of the animal" (dos Santos et al 2018).…”

“…In tropical regions, the climate is the main determining factor that limits animals' maximum performance due to the stress that high temperatures can trigger (Toniolli et al 2014;Machado et al 2016). This is why housing plays a fundamental role; therefore, it is necessary to have a design that complies with the basic principles of bioclimatic architecture and considers a set of environmental variables that guarantee an appropriate space for the animal that does not depend on mechanical systems.…”