(Image: Animal Welfare Network, North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture)
Sows and piglets have different thermal requirements. Whilst sows only have an increased need for warmth shortly before and, to some extent, during farrowing, the priority afterwards is to dissipate the excess heat generated by these high-performing animals. During the period around farrowing, a warmer floor – and, where necessary, one with a solid surface – is therefore preferred.43 If there is heating in the rear lying area of the farrowing crate, it must be possible to control the heating separately in each pen (Fig. 62). The advantage of this system is that the piglets are born onto a warmed floor. During lactation, the focus is on heat dissipation for the sows. Concrete and/or cast iron slats assist with this.
In the long term, active cooling is desirable; however, current technology only allows for passive cooling via the thermal conductivity properties of the floor materials used.
Note: Inappropriate temperature management leads to increased losses of suckling piglets due to the sow frequently changing her lying position.
The requirements have been further defined in the implementation guidelines for the Animal Welfare Ordinance (as of May 2023):
In new and converted buildings, cooling systems such as ground heat exchangers, cooling pads and misting systems, as well as facilities that apply moisture to the animals, such as showers, wallows or floor cooling, must be provided.
In existing buildings, the minimum requirement is to ensure that a reduction in heat stress is achieved through an adequate air flow rate, with the supply air at a suitably low temperature. Mobile rotary atomisers, for example, can be used for this purpose. Alternatively, pigs can be provided with a local cooling option by means of a so-called micro-wallow.