The objective of this research was to evaluate the behavior of piglets at different heating systems using the image analysis and electronic identification devices. This research was developed in the farrowing house, with 80 piglets from birth to weaning. The treatments were the different heating systems: heat mat, standard heat lamp, electric resistance and infrared lamp. A completely randomized block design with four treatments and 18 blocks was used. Environmental dry bulb temperature (Td), wet bulb temperature (Tw) and black globe temperature (Tg) were measured with T thermocouples and recorded each 60 minutes in a dataloger. The thermal comfort indexes: black globe humidity index (ITGU), radiant thermal load (CTR) and enthalpy (H) were calculated using the recorded climatic variables. The climatic data was taken inside and outside the farrowing house and inside each studied creep, 18 days long. Daily weight gain (GPD) and mortality were also recorded. A Tukey test with 1% of probability was performed to compare the results averages. The behavior of the piglets was evaluated using the image analysis, electronic identification. The results indicated for winter time the use of the standard heat lamp and electric resistance were recommended under the thermal point of view, for first and second week, however, considering the reflex of the heating in the behavior of the piglets in the third week, the heat mat was what provided better comfort condition to the animals.
image analysis comfort; animal welfare; thermal comfort; swine production
