Over 100 people attended the Pig Conference in the Cavan Crystal Hotel yesterday, 20 October.

“There were a lot of pig guys at the conference, giving us all a chance to catch up,” said Colin Marry, a pig farmer from Co Louth.

“There was something for everybody as the speakers covered a lot of different topics. Some were very relevant to the industry and would have challenged long-term margin practices in a very thorough way.”

“The conference provides a valuable opportunity for all in the sector to meet other producers and get the latest information from the Teagasc Pig Development Department and talk to the other speakers on the issues and challenges facing the sector,” said head of the Teagasc Pig Development Department, Ciarán Carroll.

Guest speakers Jannes Doppenberg and Francesc Molist from Schothorst Feed Research in the Netherlands looked at using alternative feed ingredients to reduce feed costs. This is critical for Irish producers who are looking to close the gap on production costs with European competitors.

Caroline Garvan and Denis Healy from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, gave an update on antimicrobials in pig production and what the sector is facing in relation to usage reduction.

“The main point of the Department’s presentation was to raise awareness of the issue,” said Marry. “We have been conscious of the issue for a number of years but Caroline got the point across in a very practical way.”

Ciarán Carroll, head of the Teagasc Pig Development Department, has been looking at a draft strategy programme for the Pig Development Department over the next few years.

“Overall, the conference was very useful and practical,” said Marry. “We are starting to see the benefits of the levy brought in a few years ago, through research and advisory.”

Ger McCutcheon spoke on the pig sector in Brazil.

“The speech from Ger highlighted the benefits of supporting local through the DNA and Bord Bia programmes,” said Marry.

Appointment

At the conference, Teagasc announced the appointment of Emer McCrum from Mullingar as a new specialist pig development officer based at Ballyhaise in Co Cavan. She fills the vacancy following Seamas Clarke’s retirement. Emer McCrum graduated with a degree in agricultural science from University College Dublin, specialising in animal and crop production. She has been working as a technician with Teagasc for the past few months and has previously worked on a commercial pig farm in the midlands.

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