The threat of African Swine Fever remains ever-present in the pig industry, with confirmation that the disease is gradually spreading westwards across Ireland, Sally Gaynor, an official from Department of Agriculture, told the annual pig health conference in Cavan on 10 April.

Income

Another concern for the pig industry was the need to address the issue of income and Jamie Robertson gave the assembled crowd some straight-talking advice on how, by solving the problem of dirty water, pig producers can reduce antibiotics and disease threats. Water quality can be measured using a TDS meter and fresh water will mean an increase in the growth rate.

“The increase in growth rate by 10g a day per 1,000 pigs is worth €1,200 and if you’re not worried about €1,200 you’re in the wrong room”

On-farm challenges:

Pig farmer Gary Pepper talked openly about overcoming challenges and making mistakes. He has faced a huge amount of challenges since 2010, from rhinitis to scour, and this year gilts not eating.

“I’ve probably made more mistakes than all ye put together,” Pepper told the crowd.

However it’s important to note that he has stopped blanket treatment of antibiotics since November last year and so far has seen a good response and a cut down in vet costs. Pepper attributes this achievement to ensuring a fresh water supply and installing a water trough cleaning system to stop the risk of disease.

A break-out of actinobacillus pleuropneumonia (APP) in the herd in 2013 caused major disruption on the farm and was costly and time-consuming for Pepper to fix.

“APP was a three shot vaccine and in that year they were getting it nearly up to the day they left for slaughter but now we haven’t vaccinated for it in three years,” Pepper said.

Renewable farming:

Martin Baeker, a former pig farmer of the year in the UK, stressed the importance of availing of the slurry available to pig farmers. He converts his slurry into liquid nitrogen for tillage farmers.

“For every £200 I spend on sulphuric acid to make the liquid nitrogen I get a return of £15,000 back on the sale of nitrogen.”

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