Creating the ideal farrowing environment can be tricky. You want a suitable microclimate, traction so your piglets don’t splay, and to ensure your solutions fit your optimized cost of production. Currently, there are limited options for heating mats, and they have drawbacks. “Most mats are inefficient and have uneven heating,” says Jeff Hill, president of Livestock Welfare Strategies. “Piglets all try to find the warmest spot.”
There’s a new option hitting the market this summer: the NanoMat from FarrPro. It’s an energy-efficient powered heat mat with a non-skid surface built to last, providing even heating and superior traction, and has a best-in-class warranty. If you’re looking for technology that optimizes farrowing barn conditions, these five unique benefits of the NanoMat can help you select your next heat mat.
1. Unparalleled durability and longevity
Heat mat durability is a top concern for pig producers. While the NanoMat’s price tag might be higher than some of its competitors, the cost of long-term ownership is lower because you don’t need to replace it as often. Most other heating mats carry very limited warranties. Steve Hoff, Ph.D., FarrPro’s Director of Engineering, says, “Durability is a big factor here. We have a product we feel will be superior in durability, so much so that we are willing to put a five-year warranty on it.”
2. Superior traction for piglets without sacrificing cleanability
Providing traction for piglets is a crucial aspect of the NanoMat’s design. “We provided a mat with superior traction to minimize splaying,” says Dr. Hoff. The NanoMat is lightweight, has a low profile and is easy to move around, not to mention easy to clean. “We found a happy balance between traction and cleanability,” says Hoff.
3. Even heating for all your piglets
FarrPro uses a graphene heat panel in the NanoMat. While wired heat mats are an improvement over traditional heat lamps with inefficient bulbs that are prone to breaking, the NanoMat takes it one step further with even heating capabilities. In addition, while wired mats provide uneven heat, the NanoMat allows all the piglets to access the heat, according to Hill.
4. Energy efficiency
“Energy usage is always an issue for producers,” says Hoff. “We’ve developed a heat mat that is certainly competitive, if not the most efficient mat out there.”
So how efficient is the NanoMat? Compared to one of its top competitor products, the NanoMat is 20% more energy-efficient and provides nearly 50% annual energy savings compared to traditional heat lamps.
“As the piglets get older, you want to provide a slightly cooler environment every day,” says Hill. “You can program the NanoMat to get cooler. The only thing you can do with a heat lamp is raise it higher.”
5. Integrate with any control system
You don’t need FarrPro’s other precision farming technology to use the NanoMat. “The NanoMat can be a direct plugin or integrate with existing mat control systems,” Hoff says.
With a longer life span, better traction and durability, and even heating, the NanoMat has generated positive feedback with early customers. The company will feature the NanoMat at the 2022 World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, where customers can place orders. “We’re excited to introduce the technology to the industry,” says Hoff.
For more information, visit farrpro.com.
