Research Results

Keeping Sows Cool and Piglets Warm: The Power of Adaptive Heat Mats


By Alexia Godbout, agr. M.Sc. and Dalton Obermier, PhD

In modern swine production, creating the ideal environment for sows and their litter during lactation is always a balancing act. While lactating sows maintain optimal feed intake and productivity in cooler environments, newborn piglets depend on supplemental heat to stay comfortable and thrive. Managing these opposing thermal needs has long been a challenge in swine production. One modern solution is the use of automatically controlled variable heat mats, which precisely adapt the piglets’ microenvironment without compromising sow comfort.

This article explores how targeted, adaptive heating can optimize piglet comfort while maintaining lower room temperatures better suited for lactating sows.

The Farrowing Room Dilemma: Why Temperature Is a Constant Challenge

Although maintaining cooler farrowing rooms benefits the sow, it can quickly create challenges for newborn piglets. Lactating sows are most comfortable in temperatures between 59 and 72°F (15 and 22°C; Quiniou & Noblet, 1999; Silva et al., 2006). When room temperatures rise above this range, sows begin experiencing heat stress and naturally reduce their feed intake to limit body heat production (Renaudeau et al., 2012; Williams et al., 2013). Reduced feed intake can negatively affect milk production, ultimately impacting piglet growth and overall litter performance (Quiniou & Noblet, 1999).

Newborn piglets, however, have completely different thermal needs. Due to their small body size, limited energy reserves, and the moisture present at birth, piglets are prone to rapid body heat drops (Villanueva-Garcia et al., 2021). In some cases, body temperature can drop significantly within minutes after birth, and piglets may require 24 to 48 hours before they can properly regulate their own temperature again.

This sets the stage for one of the biggest environmental challenges in farrowing rooms: maintaining sow feed intake without compromising piglet warmth.

Why Traditional Heating Falls Short

Traditionally, supplemental heat sources such as heat lamps and heat mats are operated using fixed settings. Heat lamps typically operate using a simple on/off system, while heat mats are generally maintained at a constant temperature throughout lactation. Although these systems are effective at providing the warmth required for newborn piglets, they lack adaptability.

Piglets’ thermal requirements change as they age, yet conventional heating systems continue delivering the same level of heat unless manually adjusted by farm staff. These manual adjustments are often based mainly on piglet behavior, making it difficult to precisely manage the temperature of the heated area and unfeasible to do on a per crate basis. As a result, conventional heating systems may struggle to fully optimize piglet comfort and can contribute to unnecessary energy consumption.

Today, variable-output heat sources offer a smarter and more precise way to manage piglet comfort. By dynamically adjusting heat delivery according to piglet needs and room conditions, these systems can maintain piglet comfort in cooler farrowing rooms while maintaining conditions better suited for the sow.

Putting Adaptive Heating to the Test

In a trial conducted at Jyga’s commercial sow farm (Quebec, CAN), we evaluated the impact of different variable-temperature heat mat programs designed to optimize the piglets’ heated area while maintaining farrowing rooms at temperatures better suited for sow comfort. A total of 500 sows and their litters were included in the trial.

Precision Heating in Practice

In this trial, heat mat temperatures were individually and automatically managed through the GESTAL Quattro Opti feeder. Each feeder is equipped with a dedicated temperature sensor that continuously monitors room temperature at the crate level. Based on these recorded conditions, the system automatically adjusts the heating intensity of each mat in real time to maintain the target temperature defined by the heat mat curve. These curves are fully customizable and can be programmed to evolve day by day throughout lactation, reflecting the piglets' changing needs. The result is a precise, hands-free heating system that consistently delivers the right temperature at the mat level, regardless of seasonal or daily room temperature variation. This ensures the desired heat mat temperature is neither exceeded in warmer rooms nor left unmet in cooler ones.

Two Approaches to Piglet Heating

The farrowing rooms used in this trial were maintained at an average temperature of 66.2°F (19.0°C). Two different variable-temperature heat mat curves were evaluated to assess the impact on piglet comfort and performance. In the A treatment, heat mat temperatures gradually decreased from 100.4 to 75.2°F (38 to 24°C) as piglets aged. In the B treatment, heat mat temperatures followed a lower temperature profile, averaging 7.6°F (4.2°C) below the A treatment and ranging from 96.8 to 66.2°F (36 to 19°C; Table 1).

Table 1. Heat mat temperature curves for the A and B treatments.

Lactation Day Heat Mat Temperature (°F)
A B
0 100.4 96.8
1 100.4 96.8
2 100.4 96.8
3 98.6 93.2
4 98.6 93.2
5 98.6 93.2
6 95.0 89.6
7 91.4 82.4
8 87.8 78.8
9 83.3 74.3
10 80.6 71.6
11 79.7 70.7
12 78.8 69.8
13 77.9 68.9
14 77.0 68.0
15 77.0 68.0
16 75.2 66.2
17 75.2 66.2
18 75.2 66.2
19 75.2 66.2
20 75.2 66.2
21 75.2 66.2

The trial was conducted over six batches, with 248 sows assigned to the A group and 252 sows assigned to the B group. Farrowing crate was considered the experimental unit. Statistical analyses were adjusted for parity across all variables, with pre-weaning mortality and weaning rate further adjusted for number of piglets present after equalization.

Improving Piglet Survival: Why Heating Matters

To evaluate the impact of the piglets’ heated microenvironment, piglet mortality and survival rates were closely monitored throughout lactation. As shown in Table 2, both treatments had a similar number of piglets nursing post cross-foster. However, pre-weaned mortality rate in group A was lower by 3.1% (p < 0.01; 13.0% vs. 16.3%), compared to group B. Furthermore, crushing rate was reduced by 5.5% on A sows compared to the B sows (p = 0.025).

Table 2. Effects of the two heat mat temperature curves on piglet survival and performance.

  A B p-value
Number of Sows 248 252  
Parity 3.18 2.77 < 0.05
       
Born Alive 14.4 14.6 0.666
Piglets Post Cross-Foster 15.1 15.4 0.202
Piglets Weaned 13.3 13.1 < 0.01
       
Mortality, % 11.6 14.7 < 0.01
Crushed, % 13.7 19.2 0.025
Too Small, % 38.2 37.3 0.801
Diarrhea, % 3.0 2.4 0.222

 

The Value of Heating Right

Optimizing heat mat temperature during lactation delivers measurable returns on multiple fronts.

Weaning More, Earning More

Improving piglet survival benefits animal welfare while also having a direct impact on the producer’s bottom line. For example, if weaned pig prices are at $65 USD, the 0.51 additional piglets saved per litter in group A represents a $33.15 USD savings. If each crate sees 12 litters per year, total annual savings result in $397.80 USD.

Smarter Heating, Lower Bills

Variable heat mats also offer potential energy savings. In this example, even for the warmer curve averaging 36% intensity on a 128W mat, translated to a heating cost of just $0.154 USD per day, or $3.23 USD per litter over a 21-day lactation. By comparison, a standard 175W heat lamp running at full power costs $0.583 USD per day, resulting in a cost of $12.24 USD per litter over the same period. That difference translates to savings of $9.01 USD per litter and an estimated $108.12 USD per crate annually.

In addition, certain regions of the world offer financial incentives for energy efficient technologies in agriculture.

Room Temperature: The Other Side of the Equation

While this trial focused more on heat mat optimization, the thermal environment of the sow herself also plays a critical role in lactation performance. Heat stress is a leading cause of reduced feed intake in lactation. According to a meta-analysis by Ribeiro et al. (2018), each degree increase in ambient temperature is associated with a 148 g/day reduction in feed intake and a 227 g/day reduction in milk production. Consequently, piglets gained 30.45 g less per day and weighed 561 g lighter at weaning compared to non-heat-stressed litters. Depending on the production system, heavier weaning weights could translate into additional economic gains, whether through a higher price per piglet at weaning or reduced days to market in farrow-to-finish operations.

Key Takeaways

This trial is just one example of the importance of providing piglets with adequate heating environments during lactation.

  • In farrowing rooms maintained at temperatures better suited for sow comfort, precisely increasing and adapting the temperature of the piglets’ heated area according to their evolving needs is essential for improving survival.
  • This targeted approach helped reduce pre-weaning mortality, particularly losses due to crushing, while increasing the number of weaned piglets. Beyond survival, these improvements also carry real economic weight.
  • In modern farrowing rooms, precision heating may be one of the simplest ways to improve piglet survival while maintaining conditions better suited for sow comfort.
  • With variable-output heat sources, producers can automatically adapt the piglets’ environment throughout lactation, improving comfort and performance without increasing daily workload.
  • Further gains may be within reach by combining heat mat optimization with cooler room temperatures, supporting both piglet survival and sow feed intake throughout lactation.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions About Piglet Heating and Farrowing Room Management

What temperature should a heat mat be set to for newborn piglets?

Optimal heat mat temperature depends on farrowing room ambient temperature, ventilation, season, and other farm-specific factors. In trials, heat mat curves have ranged from roughly 96.8 to 100.4°F (36–38°C) at birth, gradually decreasing to 66–75°F (19–24°C) by the end of lactation as piglets' ability to regulate body heat improves. Rather than relying on a single fixed temperature, automatically adjusted, variable-temperature heat mats allow this curve to be tailored to each farm's conditions.

How do variable heat mats reduce pre-weaning mortality?

Variable heat mats continuously and automatically adjust temperature at the crate level, keeping each piglet's resting area within its ideal range as thermal needs change. This precision reduces the risk of hypothermia and crushing, two leading drivers of early mortality, since cold, uncomfortable piglets are more likely to seek warmth near the sow and get crushed. In a 500-sow trial at Jyga Technologies' farm, conducted under cooler farrowing room temperatures, a warmer heat mat curve reduced pre-weaning mortality by 3.1 percentage points and crushing losses by 5.5% compared to a cooler curve.

What is the optimal farrowing room temperature for lactating sows?

Lactating sows are most comfortable between 59 and 72°F (15–22°C). Above this range, sows begin reducing feed intake to limit body heat production, which can decrease milk output and negatively affect litter performance (Quiniou & Noblet, 1999).

How does the GESTAL Quattro Opti manage heat mat temperature automatically?

Each GESTAL Quattro Opti feeder includes a dedicated temperature sensor that continuously monitors room conditions at the crate level. The system automatically adjusts heating intensity in real time to match a pre-programmed temperature curve, which can be customized day by day throughout lactation — with no manual intervention required.

Why are newborn piglets so vulnerable to heat loss?

Newborn piglets are highly susceptible to hypothermia due to their small body mass, limited energy reserves, and the moisture present at birth. Body temperature can drop significantly within minutes of birth, and piglets may take 24 to 48 hours before they are able to effectively regulate their own temperature (Villanueva-García et al., 2021).

Disclaimer

The results presented in this article were obtained under specific on-farm conditions and should be interpreted accordingly. Actual performance outcomes will vary depending on housing environment, herd characteristics, and management practices.

References

Quiniou, N., & Noblet, J. (1999). Influence of high ambient temperatures on performance of multiparous lactating sows. Journal of animal science, 77(8), 2124-2134.

Renaudeau, D., Collin, A., Yahav, S., De Basilio, V., Gourdine, J. L., & Collier, R. J. (2012). Adaptation to hot climate and strategies to alleviate heat stress in livestock production. animal, 6(5), 707-728.

Ribeiro, B. P. V. B., Lanferdini, E., Palencia, J. Y. P., Lemes, M. A. G., de Abreu, M. L. T., de Souza Cantarelli, V., & Ferreira, R. A. (2018). Heat negatively affects lactating swine: A meta-analysis. Journal of Thermal Biology, 74, 325-330.

Silva, B. A. N., Oliveira, R. F. M., Donzele, J. L., Fernandes, H. C., Abreu, M. L. T., Noblet, J., & Nunes, C. G. V. (2006). Effect of floor cooling on performance of lactating sows during summer. Livestock Science, 105(1-3), 176-184.

Villanueva-García, D., Mota-Rojas, D., Martínez-Burnes, J., Olmos-Hernández, A., Mora-Medina, P., Salmerón, C., Gomez, J., Boscato, L., Gutierrez-Perez, O., Cruz, V., Reyes, B. & González-Lozano, M. (2021). Hypothermia in newly born piglets: mechanisms of thermoregulation and pathophysiology of death. Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology 9(1), 2101.

Williams, A. M., Safranski, T. J., Spiers, D. E., Eichen, P. A., Coate, E. A., & Lucy, M. C. (2013). Effects of a controlled heat stress during late gestation, lactation, and after weaning on thermoregulation, metabolism, and reproduction of primiparous sows. Journal of animal science, 91(6), 2700-2714.

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