Teagasc Researcher Maria Costa joins Amy Quinn on this episode of the Pig Edge to discuss the completed PATHSURVPIG project. 

This project may be familiar to many as over 60 commercial Irish farms were involved in the project which investigated the extent of respiratory disease on Irish pig farms, associated risk factors, and the relationship with performance, welfare and antimicrobial use. 

Firstly, Maria explains what was involved in this project and also discusses the true effect of respiratory diseases on farms. 

Maria was largely involved in the cross sectional component of this study in which biosecurity, vaccination, antimicrobial use and feeding practices from about 60 commercial farms was examined and subsequently slaughterhouse examinations looking and lung, heart and liver lesions were collected from a large number of pigs from each of those farms. 

Maria takes us through the main findings from this part of the study and takes us through the results which modelled the implications of respiratory disease on production performance.

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

Teagasc Researcher Peadar Lawlor joins Amy Quinn on the first episode of the Pig Edge to discuss the WET-FEED project which is nearing completion, this project looked at optimising liquid feeding for increased growth and improved feed efficiency in grow-finisher pigs.

Firstly, Peadar explains what this project was all about and outlines its main objectives. Peadar also touches on the practice of liquid feeding, in general, its popularity, as well as the main advantages and disadvantages of this system as he sees it.

Peadar brings us through the findings of the work carried out in the Teagasc Pig Research Facility where they compared dry, wet/dry and liquid feeding using a common diet in meal or pelleted form on growth, feed efficiency and carcass quality of grow-finisher pigs.

This project also looked at liquid feeding on a sample of commercial Irish pig farms and Peadar gives us an interesting insight into what this study found on farms. Finally, Peadar gives his thoughts into what feeding system to consider and the circumstances in which to do so if looking at refurbishing or building a new unit.

For more episodes and information from the Pig Edge podcast go to

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/pigs/the-pig-edge-podcast/

The Pig Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.

The Pig Edge, Teagasc's new podcast for pig farmers is launching soon.

Presented by Amy Quinn, the Pig Edge will cover the news, information and advice to keep pig farmers up-to-date.