Heating Strategies in Farrowing Compartments: Exploring Configurational Options and the Feasibility of Solar Systems Integration

Maintaining ideal climate conditions in the farrowing compartment presents a complex and energy-intensive challenge in pig husbandry due to the conflicting thermoneutral zones of sows (19-22°C) and piglets (29-35°C) (Hörtenhuber et al., 2020), requiring a tailored microclimate for piglets. The study focuses on optimizing various heating strategies within farrowing compartments and evaluating the feasibility of transitioning to renewable energy. Initially, three heating configurations were tested at Varkenscampus in Melle, Belgium. These scenarios comprised manually controlled heat lamps and underfloor heating (S1), solely automatic heat lamps (S2), and automatic heat lamps with coverings (S3). Temperature sensors in the pens collected environmental data, while energy usage was monitored to calculate costs. Results indicate that S3 effectively creates a localized heat environment, reducing heat loss and electricity use by 30% compared to S2 and 25% compared to S1. However, further investigation is warranted to assess its performance in colder weather. Subsequently, solar energy and heat pump feasibility for the farrowing compartment was evaluated using DesignBuilder simulations. Scenarios (S1, S2, S3) were simulated alongside variations such as natural gas floor heating (S1) and a heat pump (S1HP). Results suggest that while S3 is the most cost-effective, S1HP is the most ecologically beneficial. Nevertheless, neither S1HP nor S3, combined with batteries, yielded positive Net Present Values over a 10-year period. Hence, a combined approach with other renewable systems is advised for sustainable electricity supply. These findings underscore the importance of different heating configurations for piglets in the farrowing compartment, as well as the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources for long-term viability and economic feasibility. © 2024 11th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming. All rights reserved.