Why pen-level temperature control matters for pig welfare

Creating the right environment for pigs throughout the growing cycle can be challenging for producers, especially when it comes to keeping pigs warm enough during colder periods while maintaining good ventilation and air quality.

Achieving that balance matters. When pigs are outside their optimum ‘working’ zone, they use more energy maintaining body temperature. Consequently, this can affect feed intake, feed conversion and growth, alongside influencing comfort, lying behaviour and overall welfare.

This is where pen-level micro-climate management can make a real difference.

Create a more stable environment, where pigs need it most

Galebreaker’s Pig ThermoCover has been developed to retain heat at pen level, creating a warmer and more consistent micro-climate throughout the full growing cycle.

Rather than relying only on whole-building temperature control, the cover helps hold warmth generated by the pigs within their immediate environment. This is particularly valuable during colder weather, when maintaining warmth without compromising ventilation can be difficult.

The system uses automated precision control to open and close the breathable cover in response to changing external conditions. This helps maintain optimum pen temperatures while reducing the risk of condensation and humid air build-up.

In trials, average pen temperatures were more than 2°C higher when the cover was deployed. That may sound modest on paper, but in pig housing, small changes in environmental consistency can have a meaningful impact.

Identifying benefits across the complete growth cycle

Traditional breathable fabric membrane covers are often used for younger pigs but may need to be removed once pigs become large enough to pull them into the pen. This can mean the benefits of heat retention are lost later in the cycle.

Pig ThermoCover has been designed to remain in place regardless of pig size.

As pigs are gradually removed from buildings or groups, the heat generated within the pen environment can reduce, making temperature consistency harder to maintain.

By staying in place throughout the batch, Pig ThermoCover helps producers continue supporting welfare and performance.

Practical design for pig housing

Practicality is a big consideration for stock management which is why the Pig ThermoCover has been designed with daily routines in mind. Its motorised opening function allows easy access from either edge, making re-bedding from a gantry or pen-level cleaning quicker and easier.

In trials, the system delivered an approximate 20% reduction in daily labour required for cleaning out and re-bedding. For teams working in busy pig units, that time saving makes essential husbandry tasks more manageable and more pleasant.

A cleanable, reusable design also removes the need to replace fabric covers between batches, reducing waste and helping create a more practical long-term solution.

Performance benefits in pigs

When trialled on a commercial UK pig finishing unit Pig ThermoCover was deemed to have a positive impact on growth, helping deliver a 1.7% improvement in feed conversion ratio across a whole batch of pigs, rising to a 4% improvement during the final weeks of finishing.

Feed conversion is influenced by many factors, but temperature consistency is a key part of the picture. When pigs are kept closer to their optimum ‘working’ zone, more of the energy from feed can be directed towards growth rather than simply maintaining body temperature.

Factoring in labour and feed conversion savings, trial data indicates a conservative return on investment for the implementation of Pig ThemoCover of 3.2 years.

A practical step towards better housing conditions

Modern pig production needs housing solutions that support animal welfare, productivity and day-to-day practicality. Pig ThermoCover brings these elements together by helping producers manage the pen-level environment more precisely.

It retains warmth, supports ventilation, reduces labour, allows natural light into the pen and stays in place during all growth stages.

For producers looking to improve comfort and consistency in pig housing, pen-level temperature control is a practical place to start.

To find out more about Pig ThermoCover and Galebreaker’s wider pig housing solutions, including VVS ventilation systems, Agridoor and VentLogic i-Series controls, contact the Galebreaker team on 01531 637 900.