Teagasc Pig Conference Shares Insights for Irish Pig Farmers
The Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference 2026 took place in Cavan and Tipperary last week, bringing together producers, researchers, students and industry professionals to share knowledge and discuss key issues. Melissa Cupido tells us more.
The annual conference provided a platform for stakeholders across the pig farming sector to connect with fellow producers and explore the latest developments in pig production. Guest speaker Dr Bob Goodband, swine nutritionist at Kansas State University, joined Teagasc researchers and representatives of the WelFarmers Project to address key challenges and opportunities for the Irish pig industry.
Presentations covered new environmental rules for smaller pig farms, practical lessons from commercial pig farms, the effects of nutrition and genetics on pork carcass leanness and improving sow livability.
Gerard McCutcheon and Ciarán Carroll, Teagasc, discussed proposed environmental requirements for smaller pig farms, highlighting additional monitoring, recording and reporting obligations expected in the coming years.
Under the title ‘Every Day is a School Day’, Dr Louise Clarke and Michael McKeon, Teagasc, shared practical lessons from Irish pig farms. These included improving profitability through older weaning age, identifying optimum sale weights, addressing the challenges of rearing pigs with intact tails and designing loose lactation systems.
Dr Goodband, Kansas State University, explored how nutrition and genetics influence carcass leanness, alongside strategies to improve sow livability. He highlighted the importance of balancing genetic progress and production efficiency with the health, welfare and longevity of breeding animals.
Neil Joseph Tirchett, Teagasc, presented findings from the WelFarmers Project, which brings European pig farmers together to share practical solutions to animal welfare challenges. The project focuses on identifying improvements that can work under real commercial farming conditions.
The conference proceedings provide access to the insights shared across both days, offering valuable information for those working in the pig industry.