Create a Dual Environment in One
Room 
The sow and the new born
pigs have different temperature requirements. Sows find temperatures above
70°F (21°C) to be uncomfortable. Excessive heat causes the sow to tire
quickly during farrowing, which in turn leads to more farrowing
complications and fewer piglets born live. A farrowing barn
maintained at 70°F (21°C) will allow the sow to farrow more quickly and
easily. At birth, the new born pig leaves a draft free environment, 102ºF
(38.9ºC) which is the sow’s womb. Even a temperature of 
95ºF (35ºC) is cold to the piglet in its
first few hours. The piglet is born at 1% of its mother’s weight, has poor
hair covering and a limited layer of fat. The piglet needs heat
immediately to survive and grow. Temperatures less than 99.9ºF
(37.8ºC) will result in the piglet using the sow milk to warm itself. This
is the richest food the piglet will ever get and should be used for growth
instead of heat. The Hog
Hearth® System mat provides
the correct heat immediately! Inadequate forms of zone heating
have been used till now to try and produce these two conflicting
environments. No More. The Hog Hearth® System mat
will allow the Producer to maintain the desired temperatures for both sow
and piglets.
Reduce Mortality
The chief challenge in the farrowing barn is to prevent
piglet chilling while keeping the sow comfortable. A piglet’s body
temperature is greatly influenced by its environment. Hog
Hearth® heat mats can provide a surface temperature up to 30ºF
(18ºC) warmer than the room temperature.
Wire type heat
mats can only provide a 20ºF (8ºC) temperature rise over ambient. At
farrowing you need to add a heat lamp. After farrowing you need to
increase the room temperature to prevent piglet chilling. Wire type mats,
typically use 85 or more watts to generate the 20º (8ºC) rise. To achieve
a 30º (18ºC) rise requires more than 125 watts of equivalent energy per
crate from a wire mat. The Hog
Hearth® heat mat
provides over 4 square feet (1.2 square meters) of even heat per crate.
With the Hog
Hearth® heat mat, every pig has the same
temperature. Optimum piglet comfort. Minimum piglet stress. A heat
lamp provides a 106ºF (41ºC) temperature in only a 3 inch (8 cm) diameter
at the centre of the bulb. This is too hot. Three inches (8 cm) from the
centre is 97ºF (36ºC) and 6 inches (16cm) from the centre, it’s 86ºF
(30ºC). This is too cool. Piglets are constantly rotating to get
comfortable.
Improved Sow
Performance 
The sow’s appetite is depressed in
an environment that is too hot. By providing a more desirable environment
for the sow, she will lactate more heavily and her piglets will perform
better.
Provides the Producer the
Ability
to "control" the Piglet
Movements
The
recommended room temperature at all times is no more than 70ºF (21ºC). If
the heat mats are kept at 99.9ºF (37.8ºC) for at least the first 10 days,
the new born pig will actually be ‘controlled’ because the mat will be the
‘comfort zone’. Laid-ons, scouring, etc should be dramatically reduced if
this procedure is followed. The use of heat lamps for even the first few
days can disrupt this balance of heat between the room and the mat and may
cause health problems.
Easier Piglet
Management
No heat lamps are necessary
with the Hog
Hearth® heat mats, even at
farrowing time.
All piglets are spread out on the
Hog Hearth® heat
mat so they can easily be inspected.
Cooler room temperature are more comfortable for the
personnel as well as the
sow.
Reduce Energy Bills by 70% or
More.
The Hog Hearth® heat mat averages
less than 60 watts per crate. The element creates radiant heat, which
heats only the surface of the mat and not the air. The Hog Hearth® heat mat is equipped with R5
insulation with a foil jacket on both sides. The foil reflects radiation,
ensuring that all the heat is driven to the surface of the mat. The bottom
of the mat remains cool saveing energy! Proven savings of over
$50.00 per crate per year! (depending on electrical
rates)
Cleans
Easily
