Behavior and Performance of Suckling Piglets Provided Three Supplemental Heat Sources

Zhu, Yunhui; Li, Yuzhi; Reese, Michael; Buchanan, Eric; Tallaksen, Joel; Johnston, Lee J

doi:10.3390/ani10071155

Cited by 2 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Piglets are naturally motivated to stay near their dam and littermates several days after farrowing to receive protection, warmth, and nutrition [15][16][17][18]. Pigs are attracted to their dam's udder immediately following birth [19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The difference in heat source locating time might be explained by the way these heat sources function. Zhu et al, [ 15 ] reported that lamps radiate heat in a top-down pattern, which warms standing piglets better than lying piglets. Davis and others [ 13 ] reported that mats provide a more evenly distributed surface temperature and are considered bottom-up heating with their function to heat piglets through their stomachs, which may increase the desire to lie down.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The difference in heat source locating time might be explained by the way these heat sources function. Zhu et al, [15] reported that lamps radiate heat in a top-down pattern, A total of 12 crossbred sows were enrolled in the study (parity 1 = 4; 3 = 2; 4 = 2; 5 = 2; and 7 = 2). b 50% was defined as either an equal number of piglets for those born alive in litters that had an even number or one extra piglet for those piglets born into litters with an odd number of piglets.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Heat source type, placement, and the number of piglets using the heat source during the first day post-farrowing has been evaluated [9,10,14]. Zhu et al, [15] reported that piglets spent more time on water heated mats than on electrically heated mats and under heat lamps between birth and weaning.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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From birth to lying on- or under a supplemental heat source: How long does it take for half the litter to lie down and how long do they stay?

Stambuk,

Johnson,

Lane

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Piglets are susceptible to hypothermia because they lack hair and energy reserves, have a large surface area to body weight ratio, and have poor body thermostability. Different heat sources are used on farm, but it is not known how long it takes half a litter to locate it and lie down. The objectives of this study were to determine 1) how long it took for ≥ 50% of piglets to locate and lie on- or under the supplemental heat source for ≥ 5 min after the birth of the last-born pig and, 2) how long this cohort of piglets laid on- or under the heat source. A total of 12 sows were enrolled in the study (parity 1 = 4; 3 = 2; 4 = 2; 5 = 2; and 7 = 2). The stall containing one sow and her litter was the experimental unit. Two treatments were compared: 1) Baby Pig Heat Mat—Single 48 (MAT) and 2) Poly Heat Lamp (LAMP). Temperature was 32°C for both heat source treatments. Sow and litter video recordings occurred continually over a 24-h period on the day of farrowing. Two measures were determined 1) how long it took for ≥ 50% of piglets to locate and lie on- or under the supplemental heat source for ≥ 5 min after the birth of the last-born pig (h:min), and 2) how long this cohort of piglets laid on- or under the heat source (min:sec). Lying was defined as either sternal or lateral recumbency with ≥ 75% of the piglet’s body touching the heat mat or inside the lamp heat circle. Production records were used to verify farrowing date, total number of piglets born, and born alive. No cross fostering occurred during this study. All data will be presented descriptively. On average, sows assigned to the LAMP treatment took ~2 ½-h to farrow, and for sows assigned to the MAT ~3 ½-h, respectively. Piglets took between ~5-h (LAMP) and ~9-h (MAT) for ≥ 50% of piglets to locate and lie on- or under the supplemental heat source for ≥ 5 min after the birth of the last piglet. Cohort of piglets laid on- or under the heat source as follows, LAMP piglets spent ~29 mins lying and for MAT piglets ~42 mins, respectively. Average pre-weaning mortality was 11% (LAMP) and 18% (MAT). The MAT heat source used less energy than the LAMP (16 vs. 63 kWh) over the study duration. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first published study using a continuous sampling method to precisely examine a new measure (time needed for ≥ 50% of piglets to locate and lie on- or under the supplemental heat source for ≥ 5 min after the birth of the last-born piglet) and to determine how long this cohort of piglets laid on- or under the heat source. Our findings show an immense range in locating and lying under- or on the heat source. Therefore, we suggest that caretakers should assist all piglets to locate the heat source after farrowing is complete to improve piglet livability.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

From birth to lying on- or under a supplemental heat source: How long does it take for half the litter to lie down and how long do they stay?

Stambuk,

Johnson,

Lane

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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“…The effectiveness of the following four options of heating system for prenursery pigs was experimentally evaluated: electrically heated mat (EM), water-heated mat (WM), water-heated 'warm' floors (FH), and infrared heating lamps (IRL). Based on the research results, taking into account statistical data on average daily gain (ADG), mortality rate of prenursery pigs, as well as the effect of heating on their behavior, use of electrically heated mats or 'warm' floors with water heating were considered the most effective local heating system within the period of the first five weeks (starting from the third week) [22][23][24][25][26][27]. A carbon fiber heater has been developed for the local heating of breeding saw with prenursery pigs, providing the required thermal comfort and reducing power consumption compared to conventional heating lamps (HL) [28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2023

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Mathematical formulation of the animal thermal status has been developed, with the account of two convenience conditions and heat balance, for the floor-mounted heating panel for prenursery pigs. The borders of the heat flux variation range for the floor-mounted heating panel have been determined corresponding to the animal-friendly conditions for prenursery pigs of various age groups. The block diagram of the energy-saving floor-mounted heating panel, comprising the thermoelectric assembly operating in the heat pump mode, has been designed. The method has been described and the corresponding calculations have been made for the basic thermal parameters of the floor-mounted local heating installation, for prenursery pigs, with the application of a thermoelectric heat pump. The experimental installation sample of 116 W thermal capacity (for the heat transfer coefficient from 0.9 W·m−2·K−1 to 1.0 W·m−2·K−1 and floor temperature in the range of 5 °C to 6 °C) has been developed and manufactured for local heating for prenursery pigs managed in gestation crates. Laboratory tests of the experimental sample of the floor-mounted heating panel have demonstrated high energy efficiency of the heating installation under development. The energy-saving effect (approx. 15% compared to the series-produced equipment designed for local heating of young stock) of the developed installation was achieved owing to the partial heat recuperation of the exhaust ventilating air.

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Behavior and Performance of Suckling Piglets Provided Three Supplemental Heat Sources

Cited by 2 publications

References 27 publications

From birth to lying on- or under a supplemental heat source: How long does it take for half the litter to lie down and how long do they stay?

From birth to lying on- or under a supplemental heat source: How long does it take for half the litter to lie down and how long do they stay?

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

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