We were delighted to welcome the team from AG MAG recently for a special feature introducing young readers to life on a modern Irish pig farm.
Produced with the support of FBD, AG MAG visits farms around Ireland to share the stories behind Irish agriculture. For their visit to Kerry, pigs were very much the stars of the show, but the team quickly discovered there was much more happening beyond our pigs.
Shane brought the team through the everyday care of the pigs, from checking feed, water, temperature and comfort to the importance of enrichment and allowing pigs to explore, chew and play. The visit also took in the farrowing house and explained some of the health and welfare measures used to care for piglets and sows.
A major part of the feature focused on our sustainability work. The AG MAG team visited the wildlife ponds and ancient woodland on our farms, saw renewable electricity being generated by solar panels and learned how air-to-water heat pumps provide heat to the piglet’s pads. They also met our Kerry Bog Ponies, which are being used to graze purple moor grass on our blanket bog as part of an ACRES Landscape Action. The young readers also get an introduction to some of the science behind modern pig production, including biosecurity, research & development work and Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS).
The feature also highlights Shane’s work with schools and local communities, including planting native trees with children from Gaelscoil Aogáin and hosting virtual farm visits to help young people understand where their food comes from.
A big thank you to AG MAG and FBD for visiting and for producing such a colourful and engaging feature about our work
AG MAG is available in all good newsagents or online at AgMag.ie
