DEPENDENCE OF MICROCLIMATE PARAMETERS AND REPRODUCTIVE QUALITIES OF SOWS ON THE USE OF CLIMATE BOXES IN FARROWING FACILITIES IN SPRING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37000/abbsl.2025.115.13Keywords:
sow, piglet, climate-controlled farrowing pens, microclimate, reproductive performance, farrowing pen, survival, time of year.Abstract
In this study, we compared microclimatic conditions in farrowing pens equipped with and without climate boxes during the first three weeks of piglet life. The main objective was to assess the temperature regimes in key areas where piglets, sows, and staff are located and determine the efficiency of heating systems.
The results of the study show that in the spring period with significant differences in night and day temperature of the external environment, the use of farrowing pens with climate boxes provides a more stable and warmer microclimate, especially in the area where piglets are located during the first two weeks of life. The most significant differences were observed in the air temperature at the level of lying and standing of piglets and in the temperature of heating elements, which is critically important for their survival, comfort, and energy balance. Therefore, using farrowing pens with climate boxes is an effective and energy-saving technological solution for maintaining optimal conditions for growing young animals. It has been proven that more comfortable conditions for keeping piglets, provided by using machines with climatic boxes, indirectly influenced the reproductive qualities of sows that farrowed and raised offspring in such situations. It was found that machines with climatic boxes did not affect the total number of piglets born, multiparity, large-scale fertility, and the weight of the piglet litter at birth or the weight of one piglet at weaning. At the same time, the presence of climatic boxes contributed to the improvement of piglet survival by 7.69%, which caused a 10.2% increase in the number of piglets per sow in the litter at weaning and, in turn, led to the rise in the weight of this litter at weaning by 10.9%. Improved survival in climate-controlled farrowing pens resulted in a 6.8% increase in weaned piglets per farrowing pen and a 7.5% increase in weight. The study shows that using climate-controlled farrowing pens significantly improves piglet microclimate in the first two weeks of life, especially in the spring period with large temperature fluctuations. This provides more stable and comfortable conditions, critical for piglet survival. Thus, using climate-controlled farrowing pens is a highly effective solution that provides more comfortable conditions for young animals and has a positive impact on economic indicators, improving piglet survival and increasing weaning performance without negatively affecting the reproductive performance of sows.
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