The Pig Edge

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.