Summary
Heating is one of the biggest energy costs in a swine barn, and researchers at Prairie Swine Centre are asking a simple question: are we heating our barns more than we need to?
Early results from an ongoing study show that gestating sows kept at 8°C maintained the same body weight and body temperature as sows kept at the standard 16.5°C. The cooler barn used nearly 52% less energy. Meanwhile, grower-finisher pigs in controlled chambers showed the most interest in activating the heating system when temperatures fell between 10°C and 13.5°C, suggesting that may be their preferred comfort zone.
For producers, this research could be a game-changer. If updated temperature recommendations hold up across all four phases of the study, turning down your thermostat could meaningfully cut heating bills without compromising pig health or performance.