Pig Newsletter - September 2021
The latest newsletter from the Teagasc Pig team focuses on Virtual Pig Week 2021; Hospital pen function & design; Implications of the ‘End the Cage Age’ for housing pregnant sows in stalls; and Why do pigs cough? (Part 2).
View it here: Teagasc Pig Newsletter - September 2021 (PDF)
In this month's edition:
- Virtual Pig Week 2021: October 19th – 22nd
This year’s Virtual Pig Week will take place from October 19th -22nd on our virtual platform. The event will cover a different topic on each of the four days. It will run from 1-2 pm each day, by doing so we hope this will facilitate all those involved on farm and in the industry in attending. - Hospital pen function & design
This article focuses on the function and design of the hospital pen, but first it's important to begin by stating that swift detection of sick animals is vital. Specialised hospital accommodation should be designated for each section including sows, weaners and finishers. This article provides an overview of key design features to ensure optimum accommodation for the care and management of sick and injured animals on farm. - Implications of the ‘End the Cage Age’ for housing pregnant sows in stalls
A review of the EU’s animal welfare legislation is currently underway driven by the European Union’s new Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy. Animal welfare is an integral part of the F2F strategy, which aims to make agriculture practices in Europe more sustainable through an integrated food policy that covers the full supply chain. - Why do pigs cough? (Part 2)
In last month’s newsletter we discussed how coughing frequency measurements are useful in detecting and managing respiratory disease based on findings from the PLFpigCarc study. By providing farmers and veterinarians with information on coughing frequency, adjustments to vaccination and treatment protocols can be made. This article discusses a subsequent study from this project.
Find out more from the Teagasc Pig Team here or listen to episodes of The Pig Edge Podcast here