Pigs & Poultry

Pig Edge: Reviewing the 2024 pig and feed prices and the outlook for 2025
0 Pig Edge: Reviewing the 2024 pig and feed prices and the outlook for 2025 Michael McKeon, Specialist Pig Advisor at Teagasc Moorepark, joins Ciarán Carroll for the latest episode of The Pig Edge with a review of pig and feed prices for 2024 and the outlook for 2025. Listen in below: The […]
6 December 2024
EuroTier 2024: Latest Innovations
EuroTier 2024: Latest Innovations Pig Development Department staff recently attended EuroTier, the world’s leading trade fair for animal farming and livestock management Eurotier which took place from 12th to 15th November in Hannover Germany. As always there was plenty to see in the latest innovations for equipment, services, feed and farm management. […]
29 November 2024

Is Your Farm Winter Ready?
Is Your Farm Winter Ready? As winter approaches, ensuring your pig farm is prepared is crucial to maintaining pig health, productivity, and staff safety. Ciarán Carroll gives a guide to help get your farm ready for the colder months. Housing Proper management of pig housing is critical, particularly during winter. Ventilation Regularly […]
22 November 2024

Lowering Feed Cost: Picking the Low-Hanging ‘FCE’ Fruit
Lowering Feed Cost: Picking the Low-Hanging ‘FCE’ Fruit Gerard McCutcheon, Michael McKeon, and Laura Boyle, discussed strategies to enhance feed conversion efficiency to improve cost competitiveness, focusing on health, feed access, and minimizing stress at mixing, at the recent Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference. One of the four pillars of sustainability is financial […]
15 November 2024

Lowering Nitrogen Excretion from Pig Production
0 Lowering Nitrogen Excretion from Pig Production Dr Elizabeth Ball, a Senior Scientific Officer at AFBI, shared strategies for reducing the environmental impact of pig production by lowering nitrogen excretion and optimising feed ingredients, essential for sustainable farming practices, at the recent Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference. One of the major challenges facing the […]
8 November 2024

Brendan Lynch and Michael Martin look back on the changes and challenges of the Irish pig industry
0 Brendan Lynch and Michael Martin look back on the changes and challenges of the Irish pig industry We’re taking a look back on the careers and experiences of two long-time Teagasc pig experts on this month’s Pig Edge. Brendan Lynch, former Head of Department and Chief Pig Scientist, and Michael Martin, former […]
6 November 2024

Lowering the Bar – Making compressed air cheaper
0 Lowering the Bar – Making compressed air cheaper Kieran Keane discusses cost-saving tips for pig farms using compressed air, focusing on reducing compressor operating hours, minimizing leaks, lowering air pressure, utilizing heat recovery, selecting appropriate equipment, and maintaining compressors. Most pig farms have at least one air compressor and most run 24 […]
1 November 2024
Moving together towards raising pigs with intact tails
Moving together towards raising pigs with intact tails The Teagasc Pig Development Department has been awarded funding for a new European Innovation (EIP) Partnership Operational Group ‘Tailwards – Irish pig sector stakeholders moving together towards raising pigs with intact tails’, Ciarán Carroll and Edgar Garcia Manzanilla tell us more. Ireland, similar to […]
30 October 2024

Crossfostering and Nurse Sow Management
Crossfostering and Nurse Sow Management Hans Bundgaard, a Consultant Pig Veterinarian and co-founder of Porcus ApS in Denmark, addressed the critical topic of cross-fostering and nurse sow management at the recent Teagasc Pig Farmers Conference. Crossfostering and nurse-sow management are implemented on farms to reduce pre-weaning mortality. This article outlines best practices. […]
27 October 2024

Empty Days and Missed Opportunities
Empty Days and Missed Opportunities Louise Clarke, presenting at the recent Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference, emphasized that minimizing empty days is crucial for reducing costs and increasing productivity. Breeding and reproductive performance are important factors of any successful pig unit. Achieving a consistent flow of sows and litters through the unit is […]
25 October 2024