The Teagasc Pig Development Department is internationally renowned for its research, primarily focusing much of our programme on conducting research that can produce tangible benefits for commercial farmers on the ground in Ireland.    For this latest episode of The Pig Edge, Amy Quinn is joined by pig nutrition researcher, Peadar Lawlor, to look at the economic benefits of research.   Teagasc Pig Open Day 2024   We are also delighted to invite all pig farmers and pig industry stakeholders to the Teagasc Pig Open Day 2024, on Wednesday May 22nd in the Paddy O’Keeffe Innovat ..read more

Fiona O' Meara, Commercial Pig Nutritionist with Inform Nutrition, joins Amy Quinn on the latest episode of The Pig Edge to discuss all things pig nutrition, from dry sow fibre levels to the aftermath of zinc oxide removal and finisher phase feeding.   For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com ..read more

Here in the Pig Development Department in Teagasc, our team carry out three key services in the areas of Research, Advisory and education which are co-ordinated to assist Irish farmers in maximising productivity and profitability, whilst operating to the highest standards.    On the latest Pig Edge podcast, Amy Quinn is joined by Edgar Garcia Manzanilla, Head of the Pig Development Department, to talk us through what you can expect from the Pig Development Department in the year ahead.     For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagas ..read more

The Teagasc Outlook 2024 conference took place on the 28th of November where an economic overview and outlook for the various agricultural sectors was presented by a number of leading Teagasc experts.    Michael McKeon, Specialised Pig adviser with the Teagasc Pig Development representing the pig sector, reviewed 2023 and look ahead to 2024.   So on this episode of the Pig Edge, Michael joins Amy Quinn to talk us through the main highlights and lowlights from the past year and to discuss his expectations for the industry for the year to come.    For more episodes and i ..read more

The majority of farms out there are operating on a weekly farrowing system but there is another option potentially worth considering: batch farrowing.    It’s thought to have many labour saving and time management benefits for some farms and we are seeing it increasingly used.    So on this episode of the Pig Edge podcast, Amy Quinn is joined by Tomás Ryan, the farm manager of the Teagasc Pig research facility which is a 3 week batch farrowing farm, to talk through the pros, cons and logistics to help you see if this system could be the right fit for your farm.   For m ..read more

The Annual Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference will be taking place on the 17th and 18th of October, in Hotel Kilmore in Cavan on the 17th and in the Horse and Jockey hotel in Tipperary on the 18th .   Head of Pigs Knowledge Transfer, Ciarán Carroll, joins Amy Quinn on the latest Pig Edge podcast to preview the conference and highlight some of the key speakers and topics where you will get the chance to hear the wide-ranging technical programme.    The conference is also a great opportunity to catch up with fellow pig producers and the familiar faces in the Pig Development Departmen ..read more

Minister Simon Harris recently announced the launch of new farm apprenticeships with these new programmes marking an exciting stepping stone for both farms and farm staff allowing the next generation of farmers access to the education they want and need, whilst still working on farm.     These programmes will provide a career pathway for staff already working on farms and looking to upskill, school leavers, or those looking for a change in career or looking to get back to employment.    So on this episode of the Pig Edge, Amy Quinn is joined by Marcella Phelan, National App ..read more

Farm Safety Week took place from July 17th to 21st aiming to raise further awareness of farm health and safety, share stories and technology that can improve farm safety and challenge farm safety attitudes, as well as encouraging farmers to look after their physical and mental health.    With this in mind we thought it would be a good time to revisit health and safety on pig farms.   On this episode of the Pig Edge, Amy is joined by pig specialised advisor, Michael McKeon, who has a particular interest in farm health and safety to discuss the main issues and best practices from ..read more

In 2016 Teagasc opened the Teagasc Pig Research Facility in Moorepark Co. Cork, a facility which many of you are familiar with.    On this episode of the Pig Edge, Amy Quinn us joined by Tomás Ryan & Aisling Holmes who are in charge of the day to day running of the unit.    They reflect on some of the changes they have made in the unit over the past number of years and their motivations as to why.     For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:  https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/     Produced on beha ..read more

Ger McCutcheon, Specialist Pig Development Officer with Teagasc, joins Ciarán Carroll on the latest episode of the Pig Edge podcast to discuss the environmental sustainability of pig production and the value of pig slurry.   For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:  https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/     Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com ..read more