Benefits of using the energy-efficient lamp:

1
Study I Energy-efficient 175W Heat Lamp vs.
Conventional 250W Heat Lamp

• Benefits of using the energy-efficient lamp
• Annual energy saving of 36 per crate or 5,500
  per 1,000 sows
• Improved piglet livability, 284 extra pigs weaned
  per 1,000 sows per year
• Reduced lamp failure rate by 50
• Slightly higher weight gain of piglets
• More uniform resting pattern of piglets under the
  heat lamp

Publication Comparison of energy use and piglet
performance between the conventional and an
energy-efficient heat lamp. Applied Engineering
in Agriculture 13(1) 95-99.
Funded by Iowa Energy Center
Testing facility
2
Study II Constant Output (175W) vs. Variable
Output (175- 100W) Heat Lamp with Clear or
Red Color

• VO heat lamp better meets the dynamic thermal
  needs of piglets.
• VO heat lamp yields an annual energy saving of
  29 per unit.
• Heat lamp color of clear or red has no effects on
  piglets.
• Air temperature of 27?C (80?F) reduces piglet
  heat lamp needs weight gain compared with 18?C
  (65 ?F).

Publication Responses of piglets to variable vs.
constant output heat lamp with clear vs. red
color. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 15(4)
327-330
Testing facility
Funded by Iowa Energy Center
3
Study III Electrical Heat Mat as an
Energy-efficient Creep Heat Source - Part
1 Preference Test of Lamp vs. Mat

• Younger piglets (lt1.8 kg) tend to prefer lamp
  heat to mat heat, especially under drafty
  conditions.
• Larger piglets generally prefer mat heat.

Publication Preference of heat lamp or heat mat
by neonatal pigs at cool and warm ambient
temperatures with low to high drafts. Applied
Engineering in Agriculture 15(5) 547-551.
Funded by Iowa Energy Center
4
Study III Electrical Heat Mat as an
Energy-efficient Creep Heat Source - Part
2 Surface Temperature Uniformity
Four commercially available heat mats were tested
under static conditions (air temperature 21 oC
or 70 oF free of drafts) without presence of
pigs.
oF
Mat A

• Large variations exist among heat mats in
  temperature uniformity.
• Hot spots on heat mat reduce effective heating
  area for piglets.

Mat B
Publication Surface temperature distribution of
commercial heat mats for swine creep heating. ISU
Annual Swine Research Report. ASL-R1582. ISU
Extension, Ames, Iowa.
Mat C
Funded by Iowa Energy Center
5
Study III Electrical Heat Mat as an
Energy-efficient Creep Heat Source - Part
3 In-crate Test of the Heat Mat

• Embedded mat temperature sensors enhance
  maintenance of desired mat temperature setpoint.
• Occupied open mat areas differ in temperature
  by 7-12oC (13-22oF).
• Consider a single-mat size of 0.6 m2 (6 ft2) to
  better accommodate area need.

Publication Static and dynamic temperature
distribution of heat mats for swine farrowing
creep heating. Applied Engineering in Agriculture
(In review)
Thermographs of 6-day-old pigs on (top) just
off (bottom) the 2 x 4 ft heat mat .
Funded by Iowa Energy Center the ARDI Program
of Manitoba
6
Study III Electrical Heat Mat as an
Energy-efficient Creep Heat Source - Part
4 Modeling of Heat Mat Operation
Air temperature 21oC (70oF)
Air velocity 0.15 m/s
Power input requirement to maintain
thermoneutral environment for the piglets at
different air temperature and velocity conditions.
Publication Modeling of heat mat operation for
piglet creep heating. Transactions of the ASAE
(In review)
Funded by Iowa Energy Center the ARDI Program
of Manitoba