In livestock facilities, especially those housing calves, piglets, sheep, and goats, maintaining proper body temperature is essential to survival, development, and overall animal comfort. This process—known as thermoregulation—is greatly influenced by environmental conditions and facility infrastructure, including the flooring system beneath the animals.
At ADA Enterprises, we understand how flooring affects the ability of young animals to manage heat loss, especially in the face of cold temperatures, humidity, and varying air temperatures. That’s why our flooring is designed not just for durability, but for the health and growth of your animals.
Why Thermoregulation Matters for Young Livestock
Pigs, and calves are born with a limited ability to produce heat. Without effective temperature control, they are highly susceptible to cold stress and heat stress—both of which can negatively impact feed intake, growth, and immune function.
When animals expend energy to stay warm in cold weather, they require more feed just to maintain body heat, leaving less energy available for development. In contrast, hot weather and poor ventilation can cause overheating, fatigue, and reduced intake.
The design of the flooring—from its material composition to its floor temperatures—plays a direct role in helping animals stay warm or cool as needed.
Flooring’s Role in Temperature Control
Flooring isn’t just something animals stand on. It affects how body heat is retained or lost. Surfaces that feel cold, such as bare concrete, pull heat away from the animal through conduction. This can be dangerous for small animals in the early stages of life.
By contrast, flooring that provides a comfortable surface, reduces heat transfer, and integrates with heating systems like heat lamps or hot water mats contributes to thermal comfort and animal health. A well-designed flooring type can also support better air quality by minimizing litter buildup and improving cleanliness.
ADA Enterprises Flooring: Built for Thermoregulation
Our flooring is made from first-rate steel and completely coated with plastisol (polyvinyl, plastic)—no other coating materials are ever used. This unique construction offers a powerful combination of strength, cleanliness, and temperature regulation.
Key benefits of ADA flooring for thermoregulation:
- Plastisol coating insulates animals from cold metal, helping maintain body temperature
- Non-porous surface prevents moisture absorption, reducing risk of cold stress
- Ideal for use in creep areas, farrowing crates, and nursery pens
- Provides excellent traction for young animals, minimizing injury
- Resists corrosion in humid environments, maintaining consistent floor temperatures
Supporting Growth, Efficiency, and Energy Savings
When animals can regulate their temperature more efficiently, they direct more energy toward growth and development rather than survival. For farmers and producers, this translates to:
- Better feed conversion
- Fewer health complications
- Reduced use of fuel, bedding, and supplemental heat sources
- Lower energy costs during the winter months
Additionally, ADA’s metal flooring is easy to clean and resists buildup—contributing to better air flow, reduced humidity, and lower risk of disease across swine, calves, sheep, and goats, and mature animals.
Integrating Flooring into a Thermally Managed Facility
ADA flooring works in harmony with other facility systems. In farrowing crates, where both the sow and her piglets are housed, our flooring ensures that each has access to zones with ideal ambient temperatures. Whether in creep areas for newborn piglets or larger pens for older pigs, ADA flooring provides a safe, warm, and hygienic foundation.
Our flooring can be paired with strategic use of heat lamps, adequate insulation, and good ventilation to further support thermal regulation and improve air quality.
Final Thoughts: Smarter Flooring for Healthier Animals
Understanding how flooring design supports thermoregulation in calves and piglets is critical to designing facilities that support animal health, productivity, and long-term sustainability.
ADA Enterprises delivers more than just flooring—we provide solutions that protect livestock through all seasons. Our plastisol-coated metal flooring is engineered to maintain warmth in the winter, stay cool in the summer, and perform reliably across various types of animal housing.
Whether you’re rethinking bedding, battling cold weather, or building out new room for your herd, our flooring gives your animals the foundation they need to thrive—from birth through maturity.
Looking for the right flooring for your facility?
Contact ADA Enterprises to learn more about our durable, thermally supportive flooring systems—and discover how they can improve comfort, reduce cost, and support the health of your animals year-round.
