EFFECT OF OUTDOOR FARROWING HUT INSULATION ON PIGLET MORTALITY AND GROWTH

To determine the value of providing insulated farrowing huts, data were analysed from two newly established outdoor units, each having contemporary farrowings in huts of similar 'half-round' design (Figure 1) with (I) and without (U) insulation. On unit A, 284 litters were recorded over a 22 month period, with a mean total litter size of 10.9 (sem 0.14). On unit B, 338 litters were recorded over a 17 month period, with a mean total litter size of 11.6 (sem 0.12).