6 Best Piglet Heaters For Farrowing Crates For Small Farms Old Timers Trust
Keeping piglets warm in farrowing crates is vital. We review 6 trusted heaters old timers rely on to boost survival rates on small farms.
There’s no sound quite like the first squeals of a newborn litter in the farrowing crate. But that moment of success can turn sour fast if you haven’t prepared for their biggest enemy: cold. A chilled piglet is a piglet in trouble, and on a small farm, every single one counts. Choosing the right heat source isn’t about fancy technology; it’s about reliability and what works for your specific setup.
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Why Proper Heat is Critical for Newborn Piglets
Newborn piglets have virtually no body fat. They are born wet and without the ability to regulate their own body temperature, making them incredibly vulnerable to hypothermia. A drafty corner or a cold concrete floor can drop their core temperature dangerously low within minutes.
This cold stress is a primary driver of pre-weaning mortality. A chilled piglet won’t have the energy to compete for a teat and nurse effectively. Instead of eating, it will huddle with its littermates, making the whole pile a target for a clumsy sow to lie on. A proper heat source in a protected creep area does more than just provide warmth; it provides a safe zone, drawing the piglets away from the sow when they aren’t nursing.
The goal is to create a micro-environment. While the sow is comfortable at around 60-65°F, her piglets need their space to be a toasty 90-95°F for the first few days. This stark difference is why you can’t just heat the whole barn. You need a targeted, reliable heat source right where the piglets will be living.
Kane Standard Poly Heat Mat: The Reliable Classic
The Kane heat mat is the definition of a workhorse. You’ll find these in farrowing setups across the country for good reason. Made from tough, non-porous polyethylene, they are built to withstand the abuse of a farrowing crate environment.
Their function is simple and effective: they provide consistent, direct belly heat to the piglets lying on them. This is an incredibly efficient way to transfer warmth. The sealed construction also means they are dead simple to clean and disinfect between litters, a critical step for breaking disease cycles on the farm. You can pull it out, scrub it, hose it down, and it’s ready for the next sow.
The main consideration with a mat is that it primarily heats the surface, not the surrounding air. This makes it very energy-efficient but also means you need a good, draft-free creep area to get the full benefit. If your barn is particularly cold or drafty, a mat alone might not be enough to keep the entire space comfortable for the litter.
Osborne Stanfield Farrowing Heat Pad Durability
If the Kane mat is the workhorse, the Stanfield pad is the tank. These are often seen as a "buy it for life" investment. Constructed from a flame-retardant, fiberglass-reinforced composite material, they are about as close to indestructible as you can get. They resist chewing, moisture, and the general wear and tear of farm life better than almost anything else.
The key advantage of a Stanfield pad is its remarkably uniform heat distribution. The heating element is designed to eliminate hot spots, ensuring every square inch of the pad is the same temperature. This consistency prevents piglets from piling up on one "good" spot and reduces the risk of burns, providing a safer and more comfortable resting area for the entire litter.
This durability and performance come at a price. Stanfield pads are one of the more expensive options upfront. For a farmer with just one or two sows, the cost can be a significant hurdle. However, if you plan on farrowing for years to come, the total cost of ownership can be lower than replacing cheaper mats every few seasons.
Prima Heat Lamp: A Safer Take on an Old Standard
Heat lamps are the old standby, but traditional models are a notorious fire hazard in a barn full of dry bedding. The Prima Heat Lamp and similar modern designs address this head-on. They are built with safety as the top priority, featuring heavy-duty plastic or wire guards to protect the bulb and a much more robust cord and clamp system.
These lamps provide radiant heat, which warms the piglets and the air and bedding around them. This can be a major advantage in a colder, uninsulated barn, as it creates a larger pocket of warmth. You can also easily adjust the heat level by simply raising or lowering the lamp, giving you quick control over the temperature.
The tradeoff is efficiency and management. Heat lamps use more electricity to achieve the same effect as a mat and create a less consistent heat zone. Piglets can get too hot if they lie directly under the center or too cold if they are at the edge of the heat circle. They require constant vigilance to ensure they remain securely fastened and at the proper height. A fallen heat lamp is a barn fire waiting to happen, no matter how safe the design.
Hog Slat Gas Fired Radiant Brooder Efficiency
For the small farmer who farrows several sows at once, a gas-fired brooder is a game-changer. Instead of managing multiple individual electric heaters, a single propane or natural gas brooder can provide consistent radiant heat over a large area, covering several farrowing crates at once. This creates a more uniform environment for all the litters.
The biggest advantage here is operational cost. In many areas, propane or natural gas is significantly cheaper than electricity. For a continuous operation, these fuel savings can add up quickly, making the brooder a very efficient choice at a slightly larger scale. They are the go-to for producers who need reliable, widespread heat.
This is not a plug-and-play solution. A gas brooder is a permanent installation that requires a dedicated gas line and, most importantly, proper ventilation. Burning gas produces carbon monoxide, which is lethal in an enclosed space. This option is for a well-ventilated, dedicated farrowing building, not a temporary stall in a multi-purpose barn.
Agri-Pro Double 48 Heat Mat for Large Litters
Sometimes the standard equipment just isn’t big enough. With modern genetics, it’s not uncommon for a good sow to throw a litter of 14, 16, or even more piglets. A standard 12×48 inch heat mat simply doesn’t have enough surface area for a litter that size to rest comfortably without piling on top of one another.
The Agri-Pro Double 48 or similar oversized mats solve this problem directly. They offer a much larger heated surface, giving every piglet a chance to find a warm spot. This reduces competition, prevents stronger piglets from hogging the heat, and lowers the risk of a piglet getting smothered at the bottom of a pile.
This is a specialized tool. If your sows typically have litters of 10-12, a double-wide mat is an unnecessary expense and takes up valuable space. But if you are consistently dealing with very large litters, investing in a larger mat is a smart move that will directly impact your survival rates and pay for itself by saving just one or two extra piglets per litter.
Premier 1 Supplies Carbon Fiber Heating Plate
Keep your animals safe and warm with the Premier 1 Carbon Fiber Heater. It features a built-in safety switch that automatically shuts off if tilted, and high-output carbon fiber bulbs for efficient heat.
A newer option on the market is the carbon fiber heating plate. These function much like a mat, providing warmth from below, but they use a different technology that is incredibly energy-efficient. They deliver a very gentle, even heat that piglets seem to love, all while drawing a surprisingly low amount of power.
Many of these plates are designed to be slightly raised off the floor on short legs. This small gap helps keep the heating surface cleaner and drier than a mat that might get buried in bedding. The hard, non-porous surface is also very easy to wipe down and sanitize between uses.
The main considerations are cost and durability. This newer technology often comes with a higher price tag than a standard poly mat. While they are tough, they may not stand up to the same level of abuse as a heavy-duty fiberglass Stanfield pad. It’s an excellent choice for the farmer focused on energy savings and modern design, but it hasn’t yet built the decades-long track record of the old classics.
Key Safety Checks for Any Farrowing Heat Source
No matter which heater you choose, safety is paramount. The combination of electricity, combustible bedding, and water in a barn environment demands respect. The number one rule is to secure all cords well out of reach of both the sow and her piglets. A chewed cord is an electrocution and fire risk.
Always use heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cords, and plug them into a Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet. This is not optional. A GFCI will cut the power instantly if it detects a short, which can happen easily in a wet barn, potentially saving both your animals and your building. Before each farrowing season, inspect every cord, plug, and heating unit for cracks, fraying, or any signs of damage.
Finally, trust but verify. Don’t rely solely on the heater’s built-in thermostat. Use an infrared temperature gun to check the surface of the mat or a simple thermometer to check the air temperature under a lamp. The best indicator, however, is the piglets themselves.
- Piled in a heap: They are too cold.
- Spread out, avoiding the heater: They are too hot.
- Lying comfortably side-by-side: The temperature is just right.
Ultimately, the best piglet heater is the one that is safe, reliable, and fits the scale of your operation. Whether it’s a classic mat that will last a decade or a safer lamp for a drafty barn, the investment is small compared to the value of a healthy, thriving litter. Paying attention to this one critical detail sets the stage for success from day one.
