The Irish Pig Sector
Pig production in Ireland ranks third in importance behind beef & milk production accounting for 7.2% of Gross Agricultural Output. Employment in the pig sector accounts for at least 1,300 labour units on farms, with the total number employed in associated sectors such as pig meat processing, feed manufacture, haulage and services being estimated at 8,300. There is an estimated 290 commercial sow herds in Ireland and the June 2019 CSO Livestock Survey reported that there are 1.6 million pigs in Ireland, including 143,300 breeding sows. In 2019 Ireland exported an estimated 254,000 tonnes of pigment to 76 different export markets. The UK was the main Irish pigmeat market receiving 53% of our total pigmeat exports, 18% was exported to Continental EU and the remaining 29% went to international markets.
The National Pig Herd Performance Report is developed annually using the Teagasc e-Profit Monitoring (ePM) recording system. Producers record their production and financial data on a quarterly or annual basis to their Pig Specialist Advisor. The national report is the detailed analysis of the performance of herds that participated in the ePM system in 2019 and is available by clicking the booklet image below.
Some of the key performance indicators and trends from the report are detailed in the figure below:
See below for information for pig producers regarding Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS).
- AndersElvstroemPRRSPresentation (3.3MB, PDF)
- DAFM_PRRS_PolicyChanges2013 (PDF, 21KB)
- DAFM_notice_to_farmers_11_04_13 (PDF, 93KB)
- DAFM_PRRS_Document2012 (PDF, 20KB)
- PRRSIssues_Jim Lowe_LoweConsultingLtd_Illinois_USA
James Lowe, Lowe Consulting Ltd, Illinois, USA (PDF, 56KB) - PRRSV_BiosecurityManual (PDF, 3MB)
Andrea Pitkin, BS MS; Satoshi Otake, DVM PhD; Scott Dee, DVM MS PhD Dip ACVM
Swine Disease Eradication Center, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine - 2002.Leman.Hennings.PRRS infection in boars. (PDF, 437KB)
Jane Christopher-Hennings, DVM, MS
South Dakota State University, Animal Disease Research & Diagnostic Laboratory, Brookings, SD 57007 - 2006.JSHAP.Reicks.PRRS detection in semen (PDF, 158KB)
Darwin L. Reicks, DVM; Claudia Muñoz-Zanzi, DVM, MPVM, PhD; William Mengeling, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVM; Jane Christopher-Hennings, DVM, MS; Kelly Lager, DVM, PhD; Dale Polson, DVM, PhD; Scott Dee, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVM; Kurt Rossow, DVM, PhD - 2009.AASV.Turner.Boars - keeping damange to min (PDF, 74KB)
Matthew Turner, DVM; Prestage Farms Clinton, North Carolina; Rebecca Robbins, North Carolina State University, Raleigh North Carolina - Insemination of Gilts with PRRS Pos Semen (PDF, 613KB)
C. Prieto,] P. Suarez,t I. Simarro,t C. Garcia,’ S. MartinRillo2 and J.M. Castro1
Departamentode Patologia Animal I. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Fact&ad de Veterinaria
2 Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n. 28040 Madrid, Spain
Kubus S.A. Poligono Industrial Europolis. Las Rozas, 28040 Madrid. Spain - Swenson PRRS Boars transmission (PDF, 2.7MB)
Sabrina L. Swenson, DVM, PhD; Howard T. Hill, DVM, PhD; Jeff J. Zimmerman, DVM, PhD; Lawrence E. Evans, DVM, PhD; Robert W. Wills, MS, DVM; Kyoung-Jin Yoon, DVM, MS; Kent J. Schwartz, DVM, MS; Gary C. Althouse, DVM, PhD; Michael J. McGinley, PhD; Andy K. Brevik, MS - Yaeger Semen Boars PRRS JSHAP 1993(PDF, 1.5MB)
MichaelJ Yaeger, DVM,PhD; Thomas Prieve, DVM; James Collins, DVM,PhD; Jane Christopher-Hennings, DVM,MS; Eric
Nelson, MS; David Benfield, PhD