“Farmers will be attending this year’s Teagasc National Pig Farmers Conference with a renewed since of optimism, after the recent drop in feed prices and more is expected,” according to Ciaran Carroll, head of pig development,Teagasc.

The annual conference takes place next week at the Cavan Crystal Hotel in Cavan on Tuesday, 22 October, and at the Horse and Jokey Hotel, Thurles on Wednesday, 23 October. Carroll is hoping for “increased attendance at this year’s conference as pig producers under the Teagasc/Irish Farmers Association (IFA) joint programme are free into the event this year”.

“This year’s conference features a number excellent presentations covering an array of topics with a continued focus on the grain and feed markets.”

Guest speakers include John Bergin and James Nolan of R&H Hall who will examine the main drivers of the grain markets. Other speakers at the event include Denis Healy of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, who will address the area of veterinary medicine usage on farms.

The Teagasc/IFA Pig Joint Programme has been up and running for several months. It will published its progress report at the conference and outline what pig producers can expect under the new programme.

According to Carroll: “Research at Teagasc Moorepark will be featured with short summary presentations from research staff on current and future projects. Teagasc’s researcher Laura Boyle will also give a results summary of two major research projects on lameness in pigs, recently finished at Moorepark.”

“We encourage all those involved in the sector to attend the conference and not to miss the opportunity to meet fellow producers and get the latest information that the Teagasc Pig Development Department have put together for this year’s event.”

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