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Due to the difference in heat requirements between newborn piglets and sows during the first 10 days after farrowing, the use of lamps with infrared bulbs is a common strategy to warm piglets without increasing the overall temperature of the farrowing room. These lamps are cleaned, disinfected and stored between batches. This process increases the risk of damage to the bulbs, the electrical connections, and the lamp integrity due to an improper storing method (Picture 2).
To minimize damage and extend the working life of this equipment, the team at the Grangenia multiplication unit (central Spain), developed a cart that protects the individual heat lamps after they have been washed so that they can be safely dried and stored prior to their next use. The custom-made cart consists in a metallic frame with 3 PVC panels: the top and middle ones with up to 18 holes of the proper diameter that hold the lamps (with bulb included). The bottom panel is solid and keeps the plugs safe from dragging on the floor surface.
