Pig Farmers' Conference 2019
This year’s Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference is fast approaching and preparations are well underway. This year the conference will take place on the 22nd of October in the Horse and Jockey Hotel, Co. Tipperary and on the 23rd of October in a new location, Hotel Kilmore, Co. Cavan. The event will begin at 1pm on both days. This year we have decided to give the conference a running theme, “Focusing on the Future”, with all presentations encorperating this theme.
The topics for this years conference cover a wide range of topics including the future implications of the Chinese situation, feed costs and merchant credit, weaning management and on farm reinvestment to name but a few. Our guest speaker this year, Professor John Mabry from Iowa State University, will look at the economic impact of genetic progress on fitness traits. This year’s conference will also include a panel discussion to discuss the topical issues of the day. We will also take this opportunity to highlight the exciting things you can look forward to from the Pig Development Department in the year ahead.
Our guest speaker, Prof. John Mabry is a Professor Emeritus of Qualitative genetics in Iowa State University. Through his long career John has been intensively involved in the pork indutry through extension services, education and research. His acclaimed research focuses on maximizing profitability of swine production systems through developing breeding strategies, specifically by developing and implementing cross-herd genetic evaluation programs and using data management systems. John’s lifetime of work in pig genetics, both home and internationally, has been widely recognised by the honours bestowed on him. These include; National Pork Board Distinguished Service Award, National Swine Improvement Federation Distinguished Service Award, American Society of Animal Science Animal Industry Award. His paper at this years conference is sure to intreset all those in attendance, John will also takepart in our pannel discussion and we look forward to hearing his insights on the topics discussed.
We urge all those working across the pig sector to make sure to attend this year’s conference as there will be something for everyone. In addtion to taking in all the information on offer in the presentations the conference always provides an great opportunity to meet fellow producers and the pannel discussion will give you the oportunity to give your opinions and engage in discussions. We look forward to seeing many of you there, so make sure you mark it in your diary. If you would like any further information please contact Amy Quinn (amy.quinn@teagagasc.ie, 087 3779015). Please find the full conference programme below.
Programme
1:00pm Registration
1:30pm Session 1
- China and what's beyond, Michael McKeon & Emer McCrum
- Feed Costs –No such thing as a Free Lunch! Gerard McCutcheon & Louise Clarke
- There’s gold in your data mountain, let’s mine it, Maria Costa, Michael McKeon, Amy Quinn & Laura Boyle
- Investing for the future, Ciarán Carroll, Amy Quinn, Laura Boyle
2:45pm Coffee Break
3.30pm Session 2
- The effect of genetic improvements on fitness traits, Prof. John Mabry
- The effect of rearing strategy on gilt health, welfare and lifetime performance, Keelin O’Driscoll, Phoebe Hartnett & Laura Boyle
- Simple strategies to improve the transition of pigs at weaning, Peadar Lawlor, Laura Boyle, Amy Quinn & Keelin O'Driscoll
- Panel Discussion
5:00pm Close
