The Pig Edge

We're taking a look back on the careers and experiences of two long-time Teagasc pig experts on this month’s Pig Edge.   Brendan Lynch, former Head of Department and Chief Pig Scientist, and Michael Martin, former Head of Department and Pig Specialist join Amy Quinn to talk about their careers. From their early days in the pig industry to the pivotal moments that shaped their careers, Brendan and Michael offer first-hand insights into the major changes and challenges in Irish pig production, along with their proudest achievements.  Join us as we uncover their thoughts on the past, present, and future of Ireland’s pig industry.  For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com  

For the latest Pig Edge podcast, we’re diving into all the details of the upcoming Annual Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference, which is celebrating 30 years of the conference this year. On this episode, we’re joined by Ciarán Carroll, Louise Clarke and Michael McKeon from the advisory team in the Teagasc Pig Development Department as we explore what's in store for this milestone event. The conference is taking place on October 22nd at the Horse and Jockey Hotel, Co. Tipperary, and on October 23rd at the Farnham Estate in County Cavan. As always, this event brings together pig producers, stakeholders, and members of the Pig Development Department for insightful presentations and discussions.  It promises a wide-ranging technical programme, featuring talks from both guest speakers and the Teagasc Pig Development Department staff, all designed to help you stay ahead. Plus, it's a fantastic opportunity to connect with familiar faces in the industry.   For more information go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/events/  For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com 

Manure management has been a much talked-about topic on farms this year.  On August 21st, the Nutrient Importation Storage Scheme (NISS) was announced as part of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS III) by the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue.  For this episode of The Pig Edge, we're joined by Specialised Pig Advisor, Emer McCrum, to explore what this new scheme means for pig producers and how it could impact their business. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

This month’s Pig Edge is focusing on breeding and reproduction and Amy Quinn is joined by Teagasc Specialised Pig Advisor, Emer McCrum, to share her thoughts and experiences on the common themes and issues from around the country.  For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

The 2023 Teagasc National Pig Herd Performance Report has just been released, revealing some notable changes in our key performance indicators for the 2023 year.  To delve into the report and analyse the figures and trends in detail, we have Specialised Pig Advisor Ger McCutcheon with us for the latest episode of The Pig Edge. You can download and read the report in full here:https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2024/national-pig-herd-performance-report-2023.php  For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

The Teagasc pig team are in the final stages of preparation for their research event, the Pig Open Day 2024, which will take place at 10am on Wednesday May 22nd in the Paddy O’Keeffe Innovation Centre, Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork and 10am Friday May 24th in Ballyhaise Agricultural College, Co. Cavan.  On this bonus episode of the Pig Edge, Ciarán Carroll, Head of Knowledge Transfer, gives an insight into what you can expect on the day.To register in advance for the Teagasc Pig Open Day 2024, just go to:https://bit.ly/49EhmJF  For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

The Teagasc Pig Development Department is internationally renowned for its research, primarily focusing much of our programme on conducting research that can produce tangible benefits for commercial farmers on the ground in Ireland.  For this latest episode of The Pig Edge, Amy Quinn is joined by pig nutrition researcher, Peadar Lawlor, to look at the economic benefits of research. Teagasc Pig Open Day 2024 We are also delighted to invite all pig farmers and pig industry stakeholders to the Teagasc Pig Open Day 2024, on Wednesday May 22nd in the Paddy O’Keeffe Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork and Friday May 24th in Ballyhaise Agricultural College, Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan, starting at 10am in both locations.Please register for this event below or contact Niamh Allen at 025 42457 or niamh.allen@teagasc.ie Link to register for open day: https://us18.list-manage.com/survey?u=a7b8c417dc058d8eaf18cadc1&id=ce0969e986  For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Kieran Keane, Pig Research Technician specialising in nutrition, with the Teagasc Pig Development Department joins Amy Quinn on the latest Pig Edge podcast to discuss current feed ingredient prices, the new Teagasc pig feed lab and current and upcoming Teagasc pig nutrition research trials. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Fiona O' Meara, Commercial Pig Nutritionist with Inform Nutrition, joins Amy Quinn on the latest episode of The Pig Edge to discuss all things pig nutrition, from dry sow fibre levels to the aftermath of zinc oxide removal and finisher phase feeding. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Here in the Pig Development Department in Teagasc, our team carry out three key services in the areas of Research, Advisory and education which are co-ordinated to assist Irish farmers in maximising productivity and profitability, whilst operating to the highest standards.  On the latest Pig Edge podcast, Amy Quinn is joined by Edgar Garcia Manzanilla, Head of the Pig Development Department, to talk us through what you can expect from the Pig Development Department in the year ahead.  For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/ Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

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. Heather Peppard, Nutritionist with Brett Brothers, and Roy Gallie, pig and tillage farmer and Chair of the IFA National Pigs Committee, join Amy Quinn to do just that.For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/  Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

The Teagasc Outlook 2024 conference took place on the 28th of November where an economic overview and outlook for the various agricultural sectors was presented by a number of leading Teagasc experts.  Michael McKeon, Specialised Pig adviser with the Teagasc Pig Development representing the pig sector, reviewed 2023 and look ahead to 2024. So on this episode of the Pig Edge, Michael joins Amy Quinn to talk us through the main highlights and lowlights from the past year and to discuss his expectations for the industry for the year to come.  For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/   Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

The majority of farms out there are operating on a weekly farrowing system but there is another option potentially worth considering: batch farrowing.  It’s thought to have many labour saving and time management benefits for some farms and we are seeing it increasingly used.  So on this episode of the Pig Edge podcast, Amy Quinn is joined by Tomás Ryan, the farm manager of the Teagasc Pig research facility which is a 3 week batch farrowing farm, to talk through the pros, cons and logistics to help you see if this system could be the right fit for your farm. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/   Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

The Annual Teagasc Pig Farmers’ Conference will be taking place on the 17th and 18th of October, in Hotel Kilmore in Cavan on the 17th and in the Horse and Jockey hotel in Tipperary on the 18th . Head of Pigs Knowledge Transfer, Ciarán Carroll, joins Amy Quinn on the latest Pig Edge podcast to preview the conference and highlight some of the key speakers and topics where you will get the chance to hear the wide-ranging technical programme.  The conference is also a great opportunity to catch up with fellow pig producers and the familiar faces in the Pig Development Department and to find out more go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/events/pig-farmers-conference-2023/  For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/   Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Minister Simon Harris recently announced the launch of new farm apprenticeships with these new programmes marking an exciting stepping stone for both farms and farm staff allowing the next generation of farmers access to the education they want and need, whilst still working on farm.   These programmes will provide a career pathway for staff already working on farms and looking to upskill, school leavers, or those looking for a change in career or looking to get back to employment.  So on this episode of the Pig Edge, Amy Quinn is joined by Marcella Phelan, National Apprenticeship Programme Co-ordinator with the Teagasc Curriculum & Development Standards Unit, to tell us what we need to know about the farm apprenticeship programmes and what exactly we need to do to get involved. The next step for interested farms is to register their interest without delay at this link: https://www.apprenticeshiponline.ie/#/employer/register  For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/   Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Farm Safety Week took place from July 17th to 21st aiming to raise further awareness of farm health and safety, share stories and technology that can improve farm safety and challenge farm safety attitudes, as well as encouraging farmers to look after their physical and mental health.  With this in mind we thought it would be a good time to revisit health and safety on pig farms. On this episode of the Pig Edge, Amy is joined by pig specialised advisor, Michael McKeon, who has a particular interest in farm health and safety to discuss the main issues and best practices from what he sees on the ground out at farms, plus the main supports available to farmers.  For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/   Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

In 2016 Teagasc opened the Teagasc Pig Research Facility in Moorepark Co. Cork, a facility which many of you are familiar with.  On this episode of the Pig Edge, Amy Quinn us joined by Tomás Ryan & Aisling Holmes who are in charge of the day to day running of the unit.  They reflect on some of the changes they have made in the unit over the past number of years and their motivations as to why.  For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/   Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

The 2022 Teagasc National Pig Herd Performance Report is hot off the press, showing some changes in our key performance indicators for 2022.  On the latest Pig Edge podcast, Specialised Pig Advisor Ger McCutcheon joins Amy Quinn to discuss the report and interpret the figures and trends in more detail.  For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/   Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

The Teagasc Pig Open day is just around the corner, taking place in Teagasc Moorepark Fermoy, Co. Cork at 10am on Tuesday May 9th and in Ballyhaise Agricultural College, Ballyhaise Co. Cavan at 10am on Thursday May 11th. The pig development department will be showcasing the results of the comprehensive research programme undertaken here in Teagasc, giving you the chance to interact with our researchers, advisors and postgraduate students. With this being a brand new event,  Ciarán Carroll, Head of Knowledge Transfer in the Teagasc Pig Development Department, joins Amy Quinn on the latest Pig Edge podcast to preview the event and explain what those attending can expect.  To register in advance for the event go to:https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/pigopendaymoorepark.php https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/pigopendayballyhaise.php   For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/   Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

The Spanish pig sector has sparked a lot of interest here over the past number of years, for a lot of reasons. It’s shown impressively fast growth to become the largest pork producer in Europe.  It’s demonstrated remarkable resilience during the recent financial crisis, with only a slight reduction in herd size. Plus there’s the scale of its vertically integrated systems, as well its continually strong pig prices. As a result, representatives of the Teagasc pig stakeholder group recently travelled to Spain on a study trip to find out first-hand what we need to know about the industry. Jason McGrath is a pig farmer from county Waterford who was on the trip and Amy Quinn spoke to him for the latest episode of the Pig Edge podcast to find out more. For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/   Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com