Pigs & Poultry
Planning for Succession & Inheritance
Planning for succession is a vital process to engage in, for all farm families. It is through this process that that the next generation of farmers or farm owners are brought into farming or the ownership of land. Thomas Curran, Regional Manager of Teagasc Cork West has worthwhile advice here
07 June 2022
National Pig Herd Performance Report 2021
The National Pig Herd Performance Report 2021, produced by the Teagasc Pig Development Department is the detailed analysis of the performance of the pig farms that participated in the Teagasc e-Profit Monitor (ePM) recording system in 2021.
03 June 2022
TResearch Summer 2022
TResearch is an official science publication of Teagasc. It aims to disseminate the results of the organisation’s research to a broad audience. Picture of health - Researchers are leading work to improve the health and happiness of animals on farms, as public interest in animal welfare increases
31 May 2022
The Signpost Series - Ireland's 5th Nitrates Action Programme and beyond
On this episode of The Signpost Series which took place on Friday, 13th May, Pat Murphy, Head of Environment KT, Teagasc was joined by Ted Massey & Leanne Roache, Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM) Nitrates Division to discuss Ireland's 5th Nitrates Action Programme and beyond.
28 May 2022
Pig Herd Performance 2021 Infographic
The Pig Herd Performance 2021 infographic summarises some of the main results from the 2021 National Pig Herd Performance Report. This report is the detailed analysis of the performance of the pig farms that participated in the Teagasc Profit Monitor (PM) recording system in 2021.
20 May 2022
PDD Recently Published paper on Chronic Stress in Sows
The Pig Development Dept introduces it's recently published paper, a literature review on the risk factors for chronic stress in group-housed gestating sows, and the associated prenatal stress consequences for piglets, from Martyna Ewa Lagoda, Joanna Marchewka, Keelin O'Driscoll & Laura Ann Boyle
13 May 2022
Direct selling from Castlemine Farm
The Allen family has been farming Castlemine Farm for five generations. The 250ac farm, located at Four Mile House in Co Roscommon produces pasture fed beef, lamb and free-range pork. Anne Kinsella, Teagasc Rural Economy Development Programme, Athenry visited the farm and farm shop to learn more
10 May 2022
27% of farmers in Ireland report their wellbeing was ‘poor’ or ‘below average’
A recent Irish study shows that 27% of farmers reported their wellbeing was ‘poor’ or ‘below average’ whilst a further study found that the most common sources of work related stress are weather, workload and money. Other issues causing stress include policy changes, regulation and farm succession.
10 May 2022
Managing stress
The most valuable assets that any person has is their health and safety. 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.
06 May 2022
Kildalton College takes top prize at Macra Challenge Day
The 2022 Macra Na Feirme Challenges day ran in Gurteen Agricultural College, Ballingarry, Co. Tipperary on Wednesday, 27 April 2022. The overall winners this year were Kildalton College.
28 April 2022
From costs to the weather, how stressed out are farmers?
Analysis: farmers and farm workers have been found to experience high levels of stress and relatively low levels of wellbeing.
This article by Mary Brennan, Emma Dillon and David Meredith, Teagasc and Thia Hennessy, UCC, was first published on RTÉ Brainstorm recently
28 April 2022
The Signpost Series - Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Cattle & Pig Manure
On this episode of the Signpost Series which took place on Friday, 8th April, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Dr. Stephen Nolan, PIGergy Project & Mr. Shaun Connolly, GEBTech Project to discuss Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Cattle & Pig Manure.
23 April 2022
Teagasc /FBD Student of the Year Awards 2021
Dave Moloney from County Cork is the 2021 Teagasc/FBD Student of the Year. The awards were presented by Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Dublin today Thursday, 21 April 2022.
22 April 2022
Roberta Maria D’Alessio PhD Student Pig Development Department
One in the series of videos from our PhD students in the Pig Development Department. Roberta Maria D’Alessio study is focussed on the animal welfare issue of tail biting. In the video below Roberta describes the process she is going through for her research project.
15 April 2022
Longer days, more work, greater danger
Spring is here, and with it peak workload. Reduce your risk of injury or even death with some simple precautions. Francis Bligh and John McNamara Teagasc Health and Safety specialists have suggestions for keeping safe at calving time, when handling slurry and around machinery here
10 April 2022
Managing Roadside Trees
The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine has published guidance on managing roadside trees. Written by a panel of experts convened by the Tree Council, it presents a simple six-step process for landowners to follow. Co-author Eileen Woodbyrne summarises the advice and guidance in the booklet
09 April 2022
Pauline Lichou, PhD Student Pig Development Department
In this video, Postgraduate student Pauline Lichou, Teagasc Pig Development Department discusses her project, part of MonoGutHealth, researching nutritional and management strategies for healthy porcine offspring: improve the health, growth and efficiency of piglets born into large litters.
08 April 2022
Nip in the bud
Pigs’ tails are commonly docked to prevent tail biting, but a crackdown on this problematic practice means alternative solutions are needed. Teagasc Research Officer Keelin O’Driscoll has been leading projects in this area, to find a sustainable solution to the tail biting challenge.
03 April 2022
Molly Harrison, PhD Student Pig Development Department
In this one of 11 PDD student videos, Postgraduate student Molly Harrison, Teagasc Pig Development Department discusses her Masters project researching the potential to diversify the Irish pig produce market. She will investigate the feasibility of a high-welfare pig farm assurance scheme in Ireland
01 April 2022
Analyses of the organic value chain in Ireland
Dan Clavin & Dr Yan Jin, Teagasc led this research in which a value chain mapping approach was undertaken using organic administrative data to understand the structure of the organic value chain, examining the distribution of organic farms in relation to their production systems
01 April 2022
Raising awareness of data on the farm
The AgriDISCRETE project is raising farmers’ awareness of data by co-designing communication materials that explain what data on the farm is and how it’s shared. Researchers Claire Brown and Áine Regan, Agrifood Business and Spatial Analysis, Teagasc, Athenry provide more insight here
23 March 2022
Improving Water Quality on World Water Day
On World Water Day 2022, Improving water quality and supporting the production of high-quality food are what Teagasc are targeting through various water quality initiatives that we are involved in. Learn about the work of Teagasc ACP and ASSAP staff including groundwater sampling here
22 March 2022
Have you made your Will yet?
Making a Will is a very important task to consider for any farmer today. Many farmers delay it for as long as possible believing that they can continue indefinitely. Ciaran Beatty, Teagasc Advisor, Castlerea says it is a difficult topic to address and many farmers avoid it and have no plans in place
20 March 2022
Martyna Lagoda, PhD Student Pig Development Department
In this video, Postgraduate student Martyna Lagoda, Teagasc Pig Development Department tells us about her research project, which is looking at the implications of chronic stress for sow reproductive performance, welfare, and offspring resilience. This is one of a series of 11 videos of PDD students
18 March 2022
First Meeting of Fodder and Food Security Committee
Over 30 organisations were represented at the first meeting of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee last Friday, 11 March in Teagasc Moorepark. The group was set up to support the national response to the unfolding feed, fertiliser and energy supply issues created by the war in Ukraine
15 March 2022
Today's Farm - March/April 2022
The March/April edition of our bi-monthly magazine is now available online. It includes articles on genetics,Commercial Beef value, fertilising for grass silage, basic payment, controlling chickweed in cereals, health & safety, forestry diversification, dahlias and meet Teagasc Director Frank O'Mara
13 March 2022
Mario Ornelas, PhD Student Pig Development Department
In this video, Postgraduate student Mario Ornelas, Teagasc Pig Development Department tells us about his research project, which is looking at biomarkers and microbiomes on pig farms for antimicrobial resistance management. This is one of a series of 11 videos of PDD students
11 March 2022
Major Online Event to mark the Publication of Developing Rural Ireland: A History of the Irish Agricultural Advisory Services
A webinar marking the landmark publication of ‘Developing Rural Ireland: A History of the Irish Agricultural Advisory Services’ by Mícheál Ó Fathartaigh took place on Thursday, 17 February 2022. It was hosted jointly by Teagasc and the Social Sciences Research Centre (SSRC) at NUI Galway.
08 March 2022
TResearch Spring 2022
TResearch is an official science publication of Teagasc. It aims to disseminate the results of the organisation’s research to a broad audience. Put to good use - Researchers are using innovative processes and consumer insights to help combat food waste
05 March 2022
Keely Halpin, PhD Student Pig Development Department
In this one of 11 videos of PDD students, Postgraduate student Keely Halpin, Teagasc Pig Development Dept discusses her project focusing on implementing internal biosecurity measures in the farrowing house with the aim of reducing antibiotic usage while increasing piglet growth and lifetime health
04 March 2022