Nursery Temperature Management and Piglet Welfare

Newly weaned piglets are highly vulnerable to cold stress. Optimal nursery temperature management is one of the most impactful welfare interventions in pig production.

Key Facts

Weaned piglets lose their milk diet insulation and require ambient temperatures of 28-30 degrees C
Cold piglets huddle, stop eating, and are susceptible to enteric disease from stress
A 1 degree C drop below optimum can reduce growth rate by 3-5% through increased energy demand
Under-floor heating with supplementary heating lamps provides optimal comfort zones
Electronic monitoring of piglet activity and clustering detects suboptimal temperature early

Welfare Considerations

Temperature management in nursery pens is one of the most cost-effective welfare improvements available in pig production. Cold piglets are uncomfortable, eat less, are more vulnerable to disease, and divert energy from growth to thermoregulation. Providing appropriate ambient temperature, draught-free lying areas, and supplementary heat sources such as heat lamps creates the thermal comfort zone that allows piglets to feed, explore, and grow without cold stress. Monitoring piglet behaviour by whether they scatter or huddle provides a practical real-time welfare indicator.

What You Can Do

Support pig producers in adopting electronic temperature monitoring in nursery facilities
Choose pork from farms with documented nursery welfare management standards
Advocate for temperature management requirements in pig welfare codes of practice
Donate to research on cost-effective nursery heating solutions for pig welfare