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Effects of insulation on the temperature within farrowing huts and the weaning weights of piglets reared on a commercial outdoor pig unit

¹ Larkmead Veterinary Group, Ilges Lane, Cholsey, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 9PA
² Donnington Grove Veterinary Surgery, Oxford Road, Donnington, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JB
³ School of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU

Correspondence: Correspondence to Dr Jones

The air temperatures inside uninsulated and insulated huts were recorded on an outdoor pig unit in the south of England between September 1997 and September 1998, and the herd's production parameters were also recorded. During the summer the temperatures inside some of the uninsulated huts exceeded 45°C, but the temperatures inside the insulated huts were lower and fluctuated less. Despite the high temperatures, the weaning weight of piglets reared in the uninsulated huts were often higher than those of the piglets reared in the insulated huts, possibly as a result of the higher mortality of small piglets in the uninsulated huts, especially during the winter. The weaning weights of the piglets were higher during the summer.