Sustainability

At the heart of our sustainability strategy are our pigs. Healthy, stress-free pigs are the foundation of a sustainable farm. View our Pig Health and Welfare page for more information

We use a systems-based approach to reduce emissions, promote animal welfare, and support circular resource use:

• Manure aeration system cuts ammonia emissions by over 50%, improving nutrient quality and soil health.
  (SDG 13: Climate Action; SDG 15: Life on Land)
• Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) protects air and water quality.
  (SDG 6: Clean Water; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption)
• Solar panels, air-to-water heat pumps, and rainwater harvesting reduce fossil fuel use and support renewable energy adoption.
  (SDG 7: Affordable & Clean Energy; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure)
• By reducing soya use by 20% through enzyme technology and smart feed formulation, we’ve lowered emissions by 15%.
  (SDG 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 13: Climate Action)
• EC Blue Motor Technology – Converting our ventilation systems to high efficiency and energy saving motor helped us to reduce our energy usage by 50%. By managing ventilation and monitoring emissions, we’re improving respiratory health, comfort, and energy efficiency — another example of our One Health approach: what’s good for animals is good for people and the planet.
• We incorporate local dairy by-products to cut feed miles and support circular resource use.
  (SDG 12: Responsible Consumption)

Profit and sustainability aren’t opposites — they’re partners.
Our focus on welfare, efficiency, and innovation makes us both resilient and responsible.

• Lower stocking densities have improved growth and performance.
• Energy savings from renewables reduce costs and emissions.
• Smarter feeding and waste management mean better returns with fewer inputs.

By combining productivity with responsibility, we ensure our farms remains viable for future generations — a model of economic sustainability through innovation.

At McAuliffe Pig Farms, sustainability begins with people — the team members who care for our animals every day, the communities we live in, and the global partners who share our vision of farming as a force for good.

Empowering Our Team

Our staff are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and rewarding workplace where every team member feels valued and supported.

• We prioritise staff wellbeing, providing clean, well-ventilated, and ergonomically designed working environments that promote both physical and mental health.
• Continuous training and professional development ensure our team remains at the forefront of pig farming best practices.
• We support career progression and lifelong learning, helping staff build skills, confidence, and pride in their work.
• Regular team meetings, open communication, and recognition of achievements foster a culture of respect, collaboration, and shared responsibility.

By investing in our people, we strengthen not just our farm, but the wider agricultural sector.
(SDG 3: Good Health & Wellbeing; SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth)

Supporting Our Communities

We believe farming plays a vital role in rural life and community wellbeing. Our work goes beyond the farm gates to protect the environment and engage with local people.

• We plant thousands of native trees every year on our farms, establishing hedgerows, wildlife ponds, and many more measures, supporting biodiversity and landscape resilience.
  (SDG 15: Life on Land)
• Shane McAuliffe serves as Biodiversity Officer for Castleisland and Knocknagoshel Tidy Towns, leading school tree-planting and LAWPRO-funded water quality projects.
  (SDG 6: Clean Water; SDG 11: Sustainable Communities)
• Education is a key part of our outreach — Shane regularly visits secondary schools around Ireland, speaking to Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science students about sustainable pig farming. (SDG 4: Quality Education)

By connecting directly with the next generation, we hope to inspire passion, responsibility, and innovation in Irish agriculture.

Global Solidarity and Outreach

Our commitment to sustainability also extends globally through partnerships that use livestock and education to empower communities.

• As Chairman of Bóthar, Shane supports livestock-based aid projects that promote food security, income generation, and community resilience.
  (SDG 1: No Poverty; SDG 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 5: Gender Equality; SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals)
• In 2016, in partnership with VIVA (Volunteers in Irish Veterinary Assistance), Shane helped coordinate a project that airlifted 240 Irish pigs to Rwanda. Each family received two pregnant sows, with one piglet from each litter passed on to another family — creating a sustainable cycle of growth, nutrition, and opportunity. Now known as Vets Without Borders Ireland, we continue to support and fundraise for their projects in the Developing World. (SDG 1: No Poverty; SDG 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 5: Gender Equality; SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals)

Recognised as a Farmland Biodiversity Ambassador, Farming for Nature finalist, and multiple sustainability award winner, Shane’s leadership reflects our belief that farming can drive education, biodiversity, and wellbeing both at home and abroad.