MODELING HEAT MAT OPERATION FOR PIGLET CREEP HEATING

Abstract

A model was developed and validated to predict the operational characteristics of heat mat for swine farrowing creep heating. Heat exchange between piglets and heat mat was simulated by a one-dimensional, steady-state heat transfer model. Validation data were collected from three birth-to-wean (14 days) trials under controlled environment of 21°C room temperature and minimal draft (air velocity < 0.15 m/s). The measured maximum contact temperature between piglets and heat mat during the 14-day lactation period ranged from 44.5 to 46.2°C, and was independent of piglet age. The predicted maximum contact temperature was 44.1 and 45.9°C for 1- and 14-day-old piglets, respectively. For typical wintertime production conditions (20°C and minimal draft), the model predicted that a power input of 188 W/m2 to the mat would be required to maintain thermal neutrality of 1.5 kg piglets. The model further predicted that the power-input requirement would be reduced to 100 W/m2 for the typical early weaning body weight of 4.0 kg. Environmental conditions (air temperature and velocity) and piglet behavior strongly affect the operational characteristics of the heat mat.