Pigs & Poultry
The value of pig manure in 2024
The current value of pig manure as a valuable fertiliser for grass and tillage crops.
19 January 2024
Adding value to pig meat: What is important to consumers?
Molly Harrison, Teagasc Pig Development Department, discusses a study on consumer preferences for pig meat products, focusing on the impact of assurance labels, such as welfare and sustainability labels, on purchasing decisions.
05 January 2024
Insights from the Finnish pig industry
Johannes Vugts, Senior Advisor with HKScan Finland Oy, tells us how Finnish producers already have more than 20 years of experience with keeping undocked pigs, as tail docking has been totally forbidden in Finnish pork production since 2003.
29 December 2023
The production of free-range geese
The rearing of geese can be a profitable enterprise on a farm. In many other areas of poultry, the use of artificial heating and lighting has led to year-round production. However, this is not the case for the production of geese.
24 December 2023
Farm fresh turkey production for the Christmas market
Turkey production can be an additional enterprise to many farms and can increase farm income, writes Rebecca Tierney, Teagasc Poultry Advisor.
23 December 2023
The strengths & opportunities for the Irish pig sector in 2024
On this our 50th episode of the Pig Edge podcast, we reflect on the strengths of our industry and look to the opportunities that lie ahead.
22 December 2023
Getting weaned pigs drinking water earlier
Weaned pigs suffer a growth setback in the first week after weaning. Peadar Lawlor tells us that something as simple as providing supplementary water in a cube or turkey drinker can be of immense benefit during this time.
22 December 2023
Watch: Teagasc Pig Research Farm Update December 2023
In the final update video of 2023 we meet Aisling Holmes research technician at the Teagasc Pig Research Facility (TPRF).
15 December 2023
An economic overview of the Irish pig sector for 2023 & outlook for 2024
The Teagasc Outlook 2024 conference took place recently, economic overviews and outlooks for various agricultural sectors were presented by a number of leading Teagasc experts, with Michael McKeon, Specialised Pig Adviser, representing the pig sector, reviewing 2023 and forecasting 2024.
08 December 2023
Reviewing 2023 and forecasting the year to come
The Teagasc Outlook 2024 Conference took place on November 28th, where an economic overview and outlook for the various agricultural sectors was presented by a number of leading Teagasc experts.
01 December 2023
Snout of character
The Research Leaders 2025 project PIGSMELL is investigating how pigs communicate using their senses and how their positive interactions can ultimately support social stability and improve their health.
24 November 2023
Ammonia emissions from pig production
We will be hearing a lot more about ammonia emissions in the future, explains Gerard McCutcheon, Teagasc Pig Development Officer. Although ammonia is not a greenhouse gas and it does not contribute to a carbon footprint calculation, it is an environmental concern in its own right.
17 November 2023
'Where are the women?'
During the opening and closing of her address to the recent conference on Irish Agriculture and the EU 50 years on, a journey through 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership, EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness posed the question 'where are the women?'
12 November 2023
Elevating gestating sow welfare - a win-win for sow and piglet performance
Laura Boyle and Keelin O’Driscoll tell us that since the 2013 ban on individual housing for pregnant sows after 28 days of pregnancy was introduced, the focus on pig welfare in the EU switched to implementing the ban on tail docking.
10 November 2023
Poultry biosecurity and budget update
As we approach Avian Influenza season, it is crucial that all poultry producers ensure their biosecurity is up to standard. Rebecca Tierney, Teagasc Poultry Advisor, hosted a webinar, which focused on poultry biosecurity and a budget update.
04 November 2023
Why batch farrowing could be an option for your farm
The majority of farms out there are operating on a weekly farrowing system but there is another option potentially worth considering: batch farrowing.
03 November 2023
Feeding for higher profit
Emer McCrum, Michael McKeon and Gerard McCutcheon tell us that as a country with a relatively low percentage of its land base utilised for tillage (12%), by necessity our pig sector has to import a significant amount of feed ingredients.
03 November 2023
Optimising post-weaning feed intake: Effective management and nutritional strategies
Peadar Lawlor & Louise Clarke presented recently at the Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference 2023. They spoke about their research in optimising post-weaning feed intake.
31 October 2023
Using poultry manures on tillage farms - a win-win opportunity
Building stable and healthy relationships between tillage and poultry enterprises will create a win-win for both, John Mahon, Teagasc Signpost Tillage Advisor, told those attending the recent Signpost Programme Poultry event in Monasterboice, Co. Louth.
28 October 2023
Moorepark weighs in on farrowing room feeding
Aisling Holmes & Kieran Keane presented recently at the Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference 2023. They spoke about how productivity on Irish pig farms is always improving, and some practices in the farrowing house in Moorepark that help sustain and enhance these production improvements.
27 October 2023
10 years of research on tail biting - where are the risks on Irish farms
Laura Boyle, Roberta D’Alessio and Keelin O’Driscoll share some of their results form research in the area of tail biting over the past decade and identify the biggest risks for tail biting on Irish pig farms.
20 October 2023
2023 Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference
The 2023 Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference took place at the Hotel Kilmore, Cavan yesterday, Tuesday 17 October, and today, Wednesday 18th October, at The Horse & Jockey Hotel, Co. Tipperary.
18 October 2023
Ear Necrosis - know your enemy
Ear necrosis is a relatively new problem in pig production that has developed over the last 20 years but in particular during the last decade, Michael McKeon tells us how we can manage it.
13 October 2023
Watch: Teagasc pig farm update and National Pig Farmers' Conference
In this video Tomás Ryan, Farm Manager at Teagasc Pig Research Facility (TPRF) updates us on what has been happening on the unit over the past few months.
06 October 2023
A Preview of Teagasc’s Pig Farmers Conference
Ciarán Carroll, Head of Pigs Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc joins Amy Quinn on the latest episode of the Pig Edge Podcast to preview the upcoming Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference which take place on 17th October in Cavan and on 18th October in Tipperary.
29 September 2023
Pig Farmers' Conference 2023
The Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference will take place on October 17th in the Hotel Kilmore, Cavan and on October 18th in the Horse and Jockey Hotel, Co. Tipperary.
22 September 2023
Minister Heydon launches farm Vehicle Safety and Blind Spots Video
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Farm Safety, Mr Martin Heydon TD, launched a video ‘Farm Vehicle Safety and Blind Spots’ in Teagasc, Athenry yesterday.
15 September 2023
Ten years of research on tail biting - tail lesions in the slaughter-house
Laura Boyle, Roberta D’Alessio & Keelin O’Driscoll tell us about their research on tail biting over the past decade, focusing specifically on tail lesions in the slaughter-house.
15 September 2023
'Save the Dates’ – Upcoming Teagasc Events
Teagasc has a wide variety of events & conferences taking place this autumn. These range from our presence at the National Ploughing Championships to the Poultry Broiler Conference, College Open Days & the popular Transferring the Family Farm Clinics.
12 September 2023
Changes to nitrates regulations that you need to be aware of
In this article, Louise Clarke, Teagasc Pig Development Officer, details changes to the nitrates regulations that may affect pig producers or those importing pig manure.
08 September 2023