Static space requirements for creep area as influenced by temperature and piglet resting behavior

Eight litters of 10 pre-weaned piglets were evaluated for resting behavior patterns in a 1×2 m creep box with uniform environment conditions (within 1°C of set point; 0.7 to 2.8°C variation) The space occupied by a litter of 10 piglets at the recommended infrared floor temperatures was A_L = 0.29*M^0.53; with A_L, area occupied (m ²); M, individual piglet mass (kg). Under 4°C too-warm or too-cool conditions the piglets occupied approximately 10% more or less area, respectively. Huddling and fully-sternum (versus fully-recumbent) positions were significantly more common at cool conditions. The area recommended for 10 average-sized piglets at comfortable temperatures at 1-week (3.7 kg), 2-weeks (6.1 kg) and 3-weeks (8.6 kg) of age is 0.58, 0.76, and 0.91 m², respectively.