The Pig Edge

The Teagasc Outlook 2026 Conference, which took place on December 2nd, is an event that brings together Teagasc specialists across the different sectors to review performance in 2025 and outlining the key expectations for 2026.   Representing the pig sector was Michael McKeon, Specialist with Teagasc’s Pig and Poultry Research and Knowledge Transfer Department with Michael presenting a detailed re...

We’re taking a closer look at recent markets trends and what we can expect as we move towards 2026 for this month’s Pig Edge podcast.   Joining Emer McCrum is Shane Callaghan, Procurement Officer with Rosderra Meats, who provides an update on current market conditions, gives an outlook for the year ahead and an overview of the new pig quality payment system.    For more episodes and information fr...

The Annual Teagasc Pig Farmer’s Conference will take place slightly earlier than usual this year on Tuesday 7th October in the Horse and Jockey Hotel, Tipperary and Wednesday 8th October in the Farnham Estate, Cavan.  The event, now in its 31st year, is a staple in the pig farming calendar and will once again bring together pig producers, stakeholders and members of the Pig Development Department...

Teagasc’s, Louise Clarke, joins Emer McCrum on the latest Pig Edge to discuss the essential topic of achieving quality weaned pigs.    We’ll explore the crucial early-life factors that impact successful weaning, and delve into practical advice on management, nutrition, and health all with a focus on raising strong piglets to improve overall herd productivity.   For more episodes and information fr...

On-farm incineration is a method of waste management that has gained growing attention in recent years and to learn more about it, on the latest Pig Edge, Emer McCrum is joined by Derek Carr from Addfield to give his insights into the regulatory framework, practical considerations and environmental implications of on-farm incineration, as well as its relevance to pig farming in Ireland.   For more...

It’s that time of year again -  the 2024 Teagasc National Pig Herd Performance Report is fresh off the press providing a fascinating insight into the Key Performance Indicators attained on farms across Ireland last year.    The report provides the detailed performance analysis of the pig farms that participated in the Teagasc Profit Monitor (PM) recording system in 2024.   To delve into the result...

For this month’s Pig Edge podcast, we’re featuring highlights from a recent episode of the Tillage Edge focusing on the benefits of using pig slurry as an alternative to chemical fertilisers in tillage farming.  Pig production is one of the main consumers of Irish cereals and the resulting slurry produced on units can be an important source of nutrients for tillage crops.  Opportunities for greate...

Michael McKeon, Specialist Pig Advisor at Teagasc Moorepark, joins Ciarán Carroll for the latest episode of The Pig Edge with a review of pig and feed prices for 2024 and the outlook for 2025.   The Teagasc Outlook 2025, Economic Prospects for Agriculture, is available to view and download at:  https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/   For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to...

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...

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 conferen...

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...

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 LastCas...

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.teag...

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, give...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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/an...

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...

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 rese...

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...

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, schoo...

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 episo...

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...