02 April 2025

New post-weaning strategies being tested out at Teagasc Pig Research Facility

A 200-sow pig research centre based at Teagasc Moorepark, the Teagasc Pig Research Facility (TPRF) will test out post-weaning feeding and housing strategies this year.

Aisling Holmes, TPRF Farm Technician, has provided an update on the latest developments at the facility as part of a recent farm update video, which is available to view below.

After being happy with the level of starter being consumed by pre-weaned pigs in 2024, and subsequent performance, Aisling explained that the research facility will test weaning pigs directly onto link feed. The data from this study will be made available to pig producers later this year, and if favourable, it could have welcome positives from a cost of production point of view, as link diets are typically 30% cheaper that starter diets.

“From a digestive point of view, we feel that the pigs are adequately developed for this adjustment and it will be interesting to see how they go throughout the year,” Aisling added.

Again to quantify the impact on animal performance, the Teagasc Pig Research Facility will also test moving weaned piglets from weaner to the finishing accommodation one week earlier.     

Aisling explained: “Nutritionally, we feel they are sufficiently developed for this adjustment and we feel that the extra space allowance is going to give the pigs a huge benefit and will further aid their already impressive growth rates.”

Also included in the video is an update on the performance of the Teagasc Pig Research Facility, with Aisling pointing to improvements in the born alive rate, average weaning number and to a lesser extent, the average weaning weight between 2021 and 2024.

Watch the full update video here:

For more information, visit the Teagasc Pig Development Department webpage here.