The Pig Edge

A Preview of the Teagasc Pig Open Day Apr 26, 2023

The Teagasc Pig Open day is just around the corner, taking place in Teagasc Moorepark Fermoy, Co. Cork at 10am on Tuesday May 9th and in Ballyhaise Agricultural College, Ballyhaise Co. Cavan at 10am on Thursday May 11th.

The pig development department will be showcasing the results of the comprehensive research programme undertaken here in Teagasc, giving you the chance to interact with our researchers, advisors and postgraduate students.

With this being a brand new event, Ciarán Carroll, Head of Knowledge Transfer in the Teagasc Pig Development Department, joins Amy Quinn on the latest Pig Edge podcast to preview the event and explain what those attending can expect.

To register in advance for the event go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/pigopendaymoorepark.php

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/pigopendayballyhaise.php

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

Key learnings from the Spanish pig industry Mar 30, 2023

The Spanish pig sector has sparked a lot of interest here over the past number of years, for a lot of reasons.

It’s shown impressively fast growth to become the largest pork producer in Europe. It’s demonstrated remarkable resilience during the recent financial crisis, with only a slight reduction in herd size.

Plus there’s the scale of its vertically integrated systems, as well its continually strong pig prices.

As a result, representatives of the Teagasc pig stakeholder group recently travelled to Spain on a study trip to find out first-hand what we need to know about the industry.

Jason McGrath is a pig farmer from county Waterford who was on the trip and Amy Quinn spoke to him for the latest episode of the Pig Edge podcast to find out more.

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

The Environmental Sustainability of Pig Production Feb 24, 2023

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

How to avail of the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme and other energy cost-saving measures Jan 24, 2023

With the current situation of energy costs on pig farms, Louise Clarke, Specialist Adviser at Teagasc Ballyhaise, joins Ciarán Carroll on the latest Pig Edge podcast to discuss the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) and other energy cost-saving measures.

Louise first explains the financial help available to pig farmers via TBESS and the criteria to be eligible for it.

Plus she also highlights how to best monitor and control energy costs on farm including possible cost-savings that can be introduced.

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

The Outlook for the Pig Sector for 2023 Dec 20, 2022

2022 has been described as the toughest year in a generation for pig farmers but what does 2023 have in store?

Michael McKeon, Teagasc’s specialist pig development officer, joins Ciarán Carroll to look back on the year that was, discussing the main issues and difficulties, as well as highlighting the positive news on the horizon.

2023 will be brighter, says Michael, with a shortage of pig meat on the European market expected in the second quarter and the expectation of a good harvest to come will start to reduce feed ingredient prices.

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

A Review of the 2022 Teagasc National Pig Farmers’ Conference Nov 30, 2022

Teagasc Pig Advisor, Emer McCrum, joins Ciarán Carroll on the latest episode of the Pig Edge podcast to discuss some of the main topics and talking points from the 2022 Teagasc National Pig Farmers’ Conference.

Producers, farm staff and industry colleagues were welcomed back to an in-person event this year, the first since 2019 due to Covid 19 restrictions.

However, the conference was set against a very difficult backdrop for producers who by that point had endured 14 months of a crisis, the likes of which have been the worst in living memory.

The conference therefore, was built around the current climate with papers covering the technical to the financial all relating back to topical issues within the pig industry.

Emer and Ciarán discuss the key points of interest that can be taken from the conference for producers and staff.

All conference presentations can also be accessed at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/national-pig-conference/

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

Value Added Pig Meat & the Opportunities for Irish Pig Producers Oct 28, 2022

Dr. Ruth Hamill, Senior Research Officer at Teagasc Ashtown, joins Ciarán Carroll on the latest Pig Edge podcast to discuss Value Added Pig meat.

Traditionally Irish pig meat is seen as a commodity product, with little focus on value added.

However, if we look at our exports, while value added pig meat only accounts for 20% of total volume sold, it accounts for more than 40% of value of exports.

Ruth discusses the value of pig meat in our diets, what we can learn from research on other meats and the variety of value added pig meat products abroad, thus presenting opportunities for Irish pig meat in the future.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/food/research-and-innovation/research-areas/food-quality-and-sensory-science/meat-technology/

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

Tips & Advice for Staying Safe On-Farm Oct 06, 2022

Teagasc Health & Safety Specialist, Francis Bligh, joins Ciarán Carroll on the latest Pig Edge podcast to discuss tips and advice for health and safety on-farm as well as improving indications for the latest trends.

Podcast Survey

In order to understand the aspects of podcasts which are most appealing and beneficial to you the listener, it would be appreciated if you could take 3-4 minutes to complete the following survey to give your feedback:

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

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

Energy-Saving Technologies on Pig Farms Aug 30, 2022

Bioenergy specialist, Barry Caslin, joins Ciarán Carroll on the latest episode of the Pig Edge podcast to discuss energy-saving technologies that are available for use on pig farms.

Podcast Survey

In order to understand the aspects of podcasts which are most appealing and beneficial to you the listener, it would be appreciated if you could take 3-4 minutes to complete the following survey to give your feedback:

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

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

The Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme 2 Explained Jun 24, 2022

Damien Ward, Assistant Principal Meat Policy Division in the Department of Agriculture, joins Ciarán Carroll on the latest Pig Edge podcast to explain the €13 million Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme 2 (PEPS2) which was launched in June.

PEPS 2 is a one-off payment scheme for pig farmers administered by the Department of Agriculture.

The aim is to support farmers in the current financial crisis in order to contribute to food security and address market imbalances.

The scheme, a follow-on from the original PEPS scheme, is open to all commercial pig farms subject to them fulfilling certain eligibility and conditionality requirements.

Damien explains in more detail the eligibility criteria and how to apply and to find out more go to:

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/0067f-pig-exceptional-payment-scheme-2/

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

Results & Analysis from the 2021 Pig Herd Performance May 27, 2022

Gerard McCutcheon, Specialist Pig Development Officer at Teagasc joins Ciarán Carroll on the latest Pig Edge podcast to discuss the recently published National Pig Herd Performance Report for 2021. This report is the detailed analysis of the performance of the pig farms that participated in the Teagasc e-Profit Monitor (ePM) recording system in 2021. The data available and included in this analysis is from a total of 79 herds representing over 62,000 sows or 43% of the total Irish sow herd. For more, go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/pigs--poultry/pig-herd-performance-2021-infographic.php 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

Don’t neglect your mental health – farmer George Graham on his experiences and where to find help Apr 22, 2022

With pig farmers facing into increasingly difficult times – be it financial, personal or professional – the one thing that shouldn’t be neglected is your mental health and well-being. George Graham is a farmer who faced up to his own problems in his life and went on to found Awareness Head to Toe, a voluntary group committed to helping farmers with their mental and general health. George joins Ciarán Carroll on the latest episode of The Pig Edge with insights and advice from when he had to face his difficulties and how he overcame them. For more information visit: AwarenessHeadtoToe.com 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

Financial Supports to Weather the Crisis Mar 25, 2022

For the latest episode of the Pig Edge, you’ll hear from a recent webinar on ‘Financial Supports to Weather the Crisis’ that was held by the Pig Development Department on Wednesday, 16th February. Ciarán Carroll was joined by Gerard McCutcheon and Michael McKeon from the Teagasc Pig Development Department, to discuss current costs and cash flows. Sean Farrell, Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) spoke about SBCI Funding, and Dr Anne Marie Butler, Head of Education at Teagasc (formerly Ulster Bank), spoke about preparing to meet the bank. Donal Whelton, Head of Agriculture at Allied Irish Bank, and Pat Byrnes, Agricultural Development Manager at Bank Of Ireland, also joined the webinar with their thoughts and advice. 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.

Why pig manure is a valuable fertiliser option Feb 04, 2022

With fertiliser prices reaching record highs, on this month's episode of the Pig Edge, you'll hear an interview that Catherine Egan from the Beef Edge podcast did recently with Teagasc pig development officer, Gerard McCutcheon, and Teagasc specialist, Mark Plunkett. Gerard and Mark gave their insights into using pig manure as a cheap alternative and the dos and don’ts around importing 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.

How to best plan for the current financial situation Jan 07, 2022

In our first episode of the New Year, Teagasc Pig Advisor Louise Clarke joins Amy Quinn on the latest Pig Edge podcast to look at the year ahead and consider how to best plan for the current financial situation and legislative changes being implemented in 2022. Louise gives her advice and practical tips for producers dealing with these issues and lets us know about the upcoming Teagasc Webinar on ‘Practical considerations for the removal of Zinc Oxide’ on January 25th. 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.

The 2021 Review and 2022 Forecast for the Irish pig sector Dec 10, 2021

For the final episode of the Pig Edge in 2021, Michael McKeon from the Teagasc Pig Development Department joins Amy Quinn to review 2021 and forecast 2022 for the Irish pig sector. 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.

Dealing with antimicrobial resistance and the upcoming challenges for pig producers Nov 15, 2021

There’s no one more aware than the pig producers of the importance of animal health in the pig production system and on this week’s episode of the Pig Edge podcast, Superintending Vet Inspectors from the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Caroline Garvan and Dr. Damien Barrett join Amy Quinn to discuss Animal Health Awareness Week, the rise in antimicrobial resistance and the upcoming challenges for producers, including the new legislation on veterinary medicines coming into effect in January 2022. 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.

What you need to know about the new Pig Health Check database Nov 05, 2021

Dr. Carla Gomes, Pig Health Check Programme manager with AHI joined Amy Quinn on the latest episode of the Pig Edge podcast to discuss the programme’s new database. Carla first explains the Pig Health Check Programme including the new Pig Health Check database and how farmers can access their data. She also discusses the Salmonella National Control Programme, gives advice on controlling Salmonella at farm and lets us know about an upcoming Salmonella webinar on November 9th and what we can expect from it. 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.

A Preview of Virtual Pig Week 2021 Oct 11, 2021

This year’s Virtual Pig Week will take place from October 19th-22nd on the Teagasc virtual platform and Ciarán Carroll joins Amy Quinn on the latest episode of the Pig Edge to preview what’s coming up. The event will cover a different topic on each of the four days and will run from 1-2 pm each day and by doing so it is hoped this will facilitate all those involved on farm and in the industry to attend. You need to register for this event at: https://hopin.com/events/teagasc-virtual-pig-week-2021 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

Highlights from WAFL 2021, the international welfare research conference Sep 10, 2021

On the latest episode of the Pig Edge, Amy Quinn is joined by Teagasc Pig Development Department (PDD) Researcher, Keelin O Driscoll, and Head of Pig Knowledge Transfer, Ciarán Carroll, to discuss WAFL 2021, a recent international welfare research conference that took place last month, hosted by Teagasc and the University College Cork. Together they tell us some of the key points for pig producers from the many presentations and posters at the event and they detail the highlights from the many Teagasc PDD representations. Keelin also tells us about a workshop she was involved in organising during the conference which focused on the efforts we have made here in Ireland to raise pigs with intact tails and lets us know that this workshop will be run again for Irish pig producers in the coming weeks. 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

The Future Challenges of the Pig Industry with Roy Gallie Aug 13, 2021

Roy Gallie, Pig Producer, Tillage Farmer and Chair of the IFA pigs committee joined Amy Quinn on the latest episode of the Pig Edge podcast. Roy first explains the history of his farm and its current set up and he then goes through where he sees genetic improvement going, the biggest challenges facing the pig industry and his top pieces of advice. 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

Why farmers should be targeting a 100kg total litter weaning weight per sow Jul 09, 2021

Louise Clarke, Teagasc Pig Advisor based in Teagasc Ballyhaise, joined Amy Quinn on the latest episode of the Pig Edge podcast to discuss why farmers should be targeting a 100kg total litter weaning weight per sow. Louise first explained this relatively new key performance indicator (KPI) and detailed why this is something we should be targeting. She then highlighted how we can go about achieving the 100kg weaning weight per sow and the farm specifics that might influence this. She also looked at the influence of weaning age on this target and other factors. 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

The findings from the 2020 Teagasc National Pig Herd Performance Report May 31, 2021

Gerard McCutcheon, Specialist Pig Development Officer, Teagasc Oakpark, joined Ciarán Carroll on the latest episode of the Pig Edge podcast to discuss the findings from the 2020 Teagasc National Pig Herd Performance Report. Ger first explained the Teagasc eProfit Monitor Pig Recording Programme and why it’s useful for the management of pig farms. He then goes through the key performance indicators for sow performance, feed and grower performance and production costs for the average and top 25% of farms and tells us how farms can benchmark their data against national and international peers. He also looks at the trends in performance over the past 20 years, highlighting the significant improvements Irish pig farmers have made in that time. A copy of the report will be available at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/publications/ 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

Euthanasia & the Casualty Pig Apr 30, 2021

Laura Boyle, Senior Research Officer at the Teagasc Moorepark Pig Research Facility joins Ciarán Carroll on the latest episode of the Pig Edge podcast to discuss euthanasia & the casualty pig. Laura explains what euthanasia is and outlines the key parameters that farmers can use to identify sick and casualty pigs providing guidelines for farmers to help identify when a pig should be euthanised. She also provides information on the new Teagasc Pig Development Department infographic poster, a decision tree tool for farmers and farm staff to use to enable them to decide on the correct treatment path to follow for pigs and to make sure that they make the right call on euthanasia. The infographic can be downloaded here: https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2021/The-Casualty-Pig-Poster.pdf 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

Cross-Fostering & the Use of Nurse Sow Strategies Mar 31, 2021

On the latest episode of the Pig Edge, Ciarán Carroll was joined by Keelin O’Driscoll, Research Officer at the Teagasc Moorepark Pig Research Facility to discuss cross-fostering and the use of nurse sow strategies to rear piglets. Keelin outlines the difference between cross-fostering and nurse sow strategies and details the main benefits of using these strategies. While they can be a useful tool they do need to be applied and managed properly. Keelin also reports on the research work carried out at Moorepark and on commercial farms highlighting the key factors involved in successfully managing it. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCast Media.

Improving Litters Per Sow Per Year Feb 26, 2021

Improving litters per sow per year is the topic for this month’s Pig Edge podcast and Pat Varley, Research & Development Coordinator with PIC Hermitage joined Ciaran Carroll with more details and information. Pat highlighted the cost associated with different litters per sow per year figures and detailed the main factors affecting the figure on farms. He also addressed what farms need to focus on to improve their figure and how they can better manage their gilts and artificial insemination systems to improve performance. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCast Media.

The Benefits of Pig Manure for Reducing Chemical Fertiliser Usage Jan 29, 2021

Mark Plunkett, Teagasc’s soil and plant nutrition specialist, joins Gerard McCutcheon on this month’s Pig Edge podcast to explain how farmers using pig manure or any organic manure can reduce their chemical fertiliser usage. Mark also highlights the environmental and economic value of pig manure with the benefits for both tillage and grassland farmers using this organic fertiliser an important factor as well. Finally, Mark discusses the use of Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) equipment and how that can be best done. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCast Media.

The Irish Pig Sector Year in Review and Outlook for 2021 Dec 18, 2020

For the last Pig Edge podcast episode of the year, Ciarán Collins was joined by Michael McKeon, Specialist Pig Development Officer with Teagasc, based at Moorepark, with a review of the Irish Pig Sector in 2020 and the outlook for 2021 Michael covers what happened with pig and feed prices in 2020 and the impact that Covid-19 and the more recent outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) has had on the sector. Despite all the difficulties during 2020, it still turned out to be a profitable year for Irish pig farmers. Looking forward to 2021, Michael discusses the pig meat and feed trade, the potential impacts that continuing Covid-19 and ASF problems may have and of course, the impact of a ‘deal or no deal’ Brexit. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCast Media.

Animal Health Awareness Week for Pig Farmers Nov 27, 2020

As part of Animal Health Awareness Week - a DAFM initiative – on the latest Pig Edge podcast, Ciarán Carroll spoke to Margaret Wilson, Senior Research Officer with DAFM at Backweston. Margaret explained what Animal Health Awareness Week is all about, reminding the general public as well as livestock farmers how important animal health is to the farming sector, with particular focus this year to remain vigilant for the occurrence of exotic diseases. She discussed the services on offer at Backweston, what farmers can do to avail of them and discussed some case studies to show how they have helped to improve the health and performance of pig farms in Ireland. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCast Media.

The inclusion of Rye and Field Beans in pig diets Nov 06, 2020

On the latest episode of the Pig Edge podcast Peadar Lawlor, Principal Research Officer at Moorepark Pig Research facility discusses the inclusion of Rye and Field Beans in pig diets. The acreage of these crops grown in Ireland in recent years is on the increase. Peadar reports on recent research results from using rye and beans in pig diets in Moorepark, the impact they have on growth rates and feed conversion efficiency. He also discusses the cost/benefit of including these ingredients in pig diets and the positive news story of their inclusion from a carbon-foot printing perspective. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCast Media.

The tillage sector and its impact on the pig industry Sep 25, 2020

On the latest episode of the Pig Edge Michael Hennessy, Head of Crops at Teagasc Oak Park, joins Ciarán Carroll to give an overview of the tillage sector and how it interacts with the pig sector. He discusses the 2020 harvest and the implications it will have for the prices paid by pig farmers and feed compounders. He highlights some alternative crops for consideration in pig diets and the details included in the recent Crops 2030 Strategy report which highlights the use of pig slurry as a valuable fertiliser and how both tillage and pig sectors can work more closely together to improve the sustainability of both sectors. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCast Media.

Key information about vaccine programmes on farm Aug 28, 2020

Vaccines and vaccination programmes on farm is the topic for discussion on this week’s Pig Edge with Laura Boyd from MSD joining presenter Ciarán Carroll to discuss. Laura explains the different types of vaccines there are and when farmers should consider them. She also discusses some of the more common problems and mistakes that are made, and has important information on their proper storage and administration. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

How to cut energy costs on farm Aug 14, 2020

On the latest episode of the Pig Edge podcast, Ciarán Carroll discusses energy use on pig farms. Ciarán is joined by Damien Fowley and David Fitzgerald from Exemplar Energy Solutions to find out about the main contributors of energy use on pig farms, where savings and efficiencies can be made, and whether renewable energy could be a solution on farm. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

The Key Strategies Required to Optimise Lactation Feed Intakes Jul 31, 2020

On the latest episode of the Pig Edge, Emer McCrum, Teagasc Pig Development Officer, discusses how farmers should go about optimising lactation feed intakes. Emer explains how optimising lactation feed intakes ensures sows consume sufficient feed on a daily basis to meet their maintenance and milk production requirements, minimises sow weight loss during lactation and optimises litter performance. She also outlines in detail the key strategies required to optimise intakes and maximise pig performance. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Mycotoxins and their impact on pig performance Jul 17, 2020

Mycotoxins and their impact on pig performance is the topic for this episode of the Pig Edge and presenter Ciaran Carroll was joined by Louise Clarke, Teagasc’s Specialised Pig Development Officer at Ballyhaise to find out more. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

What you need to know about African Swine Fever Jul 03, 2020

Anyone with an interest in the pig industry is well aware of African Swine Fever (ASF) and the threat it poses to the pig sector. On this episode of the Pig Edge, Amy Quinn speaks to Eithne White, Veterinary Inspector from the National Disease Control Centre at the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, to get an overview, update and general advice on ASF. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

How and why ‘evenitis’ could be costing producers Jun 19, 2020

Pig Farmers can often spend a considerable amount of time grading and sorting pigs throughout the production stages, but in this episode of the Pig Edge, Specialised Pig Advisor Michael McKeon talks to Amy Quinn to discuss why this well-meant practice might in some cases be costing producers. Michael first coined the term “Evenitis” to best describe this practice at the 2015 Teagasc Pig Farmers conference and he tells us that this issue hasn’t gone away. Michael firstly takes us through what exactly Evenitis is and details the main issues associated with repeated mixing or regrading of pigs. Michael discusses the problem areas as well as best practices to operate by in the farrowing, weaner and finisher houses. He also has some tips for farmers who have weight variation in pens approaching sale. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Seasonal infertility in pig production Jun 05, 2020

Head of Knowledge Transfer for the Teagasc Pig Development Department, Ciarán Carroll joins Amy Quinn on this episode of The Pig Edge to discuss the topic of seasonal infertility in pig production. Ciarán firstly talks through what exactly seasonal fertility is and how it presents itself. He then discusses what measures pig producers should look at to minimise the potential effects over the coming months. He also touches on some of the most relevant research that has been carried out on the topic. The key message from this episode is that now is the time to do some investigation and to plan ahead to best prevent or mitigate the effects of seasonal infertility. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Antimicrobial use and resistance in pig production May 22, 2020

The topical area of antimicrobial use and resistance in pig production is covered by Amy Quinn on the latest Pig Edge podcast with Teagasc PhD student Lorcan O’Neill.

Firstly Lorcan gives an overview of his study which looked at antimicrobial usage on Irish pig farms. He then discusses where the Irish pig industry stands in comparison to other countries in terms of measuring antimicrobial usage at farm level.

Lorcan also touches on the new EU regulations governing antibiotic use which will be coming into effect in 2022.

He then takes us through his study looking at antimicrobial resistance. Lorcan shares some of the main considerations for farmers looking to reduce their use of antibiotics on farm.

To finish up Lorcan briefly discusses the new Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) antimicrobial database for pig producers.

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

The Key Findings from the 2019 Teagasc National Pig Herd Performance Report May 08, 2020

Teagasc Specialised Pig Advisor Ger McCutcheon joins Amy Quinn on the latest episode of the Pig Edge to discuss the newly released Teagasc National Pig Herd Performance Report which outlines the key performance indicators and their trends for the 2019 year.

Ger firstly introduces us to the eProfit Monitor system (ePM) and how it can be used as a useful management tool on pig farms. Ger then highlights the main results and trends, taking us through the 2019 averages for the main key performance indicators for both sow and grower productivity.

He also discusses some of the key differences between the national average figures for 2019 and those of the top 25% and top 10% of herds in relation to sow and grower performance. In addition to the productivity figures, Ger details the main production costs and the differences observed in 2019.

To access the report click here and for the infographic click here

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

The PATHSURVPIG project and the true effect of respiratory diseases on pig farms Apr 24, 2020

Teagasc Researcher Maria Costa joins Amy Quinn on this episode of the Pig Edge to discuss the completed PATHSURVPIG project.

This project may be familiar to many as over 60 commercial Irish farms were involved in the project which investigated the extent of respiratory disease on Irish pig farms, associated risk factors, and the relationship with performance, welfare and antimicrobial use.

Firstly, Maria explains what was involved in this project and also discusses the true effect of respiratory diseases on farms.

Maria was largely involved in the cross sectional component of this study in which biosecurity, vaccination, antimicrobial use and feeding practices from about 60 commercial farms was examined and subsequently slaughterhouse examinations looking and lung, heart and liver lesions were collected from a large number of pigs from each of those farms.

Maria takes us through the main findings from this part of the study and takes us through the results which modelled the implications of respiratory disease on production performance.

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

The WET-FEED Project and how to optimise liquid feeding systems Apr 22, 2020

Teagasc Researcher Peadar Lawlor joins Amy Quinn on the first episode of the Pig Edge to discuss the WET-FEED project which is nearing completion, this project looked at optimising liquid feeding for increased growth and improved feed efficiency in grow-finisher pigs.

Firstly, Peadar explains what this project was all about and outlines its main objectives. Peadar also touches on the practice of liquid feeding, in general, its popularity, as well as the main advantages and disadvantages of this system as he sees it.

Peadar brings us through the findings of the work carried out in the Teagasc Pig Research Facility where they compared dry, wet/dry and liquid feeding using a common diet in meal or pelleted form on growth, feed efficiency and carcass quality of grow-finisher pigs.

This project also looked at liquid feeding on a sample of commercial Irish pig farms and Peadar gives us an interesting insight into what this study found on farms. Finally, Peadar gives his thoughts into what feeding system to consider and the circumstances in which to do so if looking at refurbishing or building a new unit.

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.