Stressing the importance of sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices, farmer Kelly Klober provides expert advice on making any size hog operation more efficient and profitable in Storey's Guide to Raising Pigs. The most comprehensive book available on the topic, this fourth edition features the most up-to-date practices, illustrated with color photography. Both beginners and experienced farmers will find all the information they need to select, house, care for, breed, and butcher pigs, along with marketing advice. The fourth edition of the most trusted and comprehensive pig-raising reference features color photography and updated information on pig care, breed selection, housing, and health. Kelly Klober is the author of Storey's Guide to Raising Pigs and has raised purebred hogs on his Missouri farm for almost 40 years. He writes, speaks, and consults on many small-farm topics, including farmers' markets, breed preservation, chicken health, and sustainable practices.
Raise hogs in a healthy, profitable manner with expert guidance and practical advice from long-time hog farmer Kelly Klober. Whether you're a small farmer or an artisanal breeder, this comprehensive guide gives you everything you need to know to be successful.
Learn how to choose the right breed for your farm; oversee breeding, birthing, and nursing; manage safe, humane housing and fencing options; butcher your hogs and process the pork; and effectively market your hogs and pork. Preface
1 An Introduction to Raising Hogs
Hog-Farming Trends * Modern Pork Production * Hog Myths * Talkin' Hog * Thinking Hogs * Identify Your Markets
2 Breeds Tried and True
Choosing Breeding Stock for Small Farms * Modern Swine Breeds * Why Purebred Hogs Instead of Hybrids? * Choose a Breed Type to Match Your Farm * Pigs as Pets
3 Raising Hogs for the Family Table
The Facilities * Essential Equipment * Buying a Pig or Two * Feeding Hogs * Bringing Your Pigs Home * Swine Finishing
4 Home Butchering and Pork Processing
Slaughtering the Hog * Breaking Down the Carcass * Butchering * Putting Away the Pork * Preserving Pork * There's Pork in This? - Pork Recipes
5 Fitting and Showing Hogs
Showing Market Hogs * Showing Breeding Stock
6 The Hog Business
Running a Manageable Operation * How Many Hogs for Success? * Know Your Market * A Shift in Feeder-Pig Production * Show Pigs * Farrow-to-Finish Production * Finishing Hogs * Breeding-Stock Production * Direct Marketing Your Own Pork * What about Organic? * Contented Hogs * Lean and Green
7 Preparing for Your Herd
The Drylot * The Pasture * Fencing Choices * The Range House * Farrowing Structures * Housing for Sows with Nursing Pigs
8 Selecting Breeding Stock
Shopping for Livestock * Performance Data * Gilt Selection * Boar Selection * Bidding Decisions
9 Managing Your Breeding Herd
Bringing in the Boar * Bringing in Gilts * Breeding Gilts * What's Best for the Boar * Gestation * Farrowing * The Pig at Birth * Caring for the Newborn Pig * Postfarrowing Sow Care * Care for Nursing Pigs * Weaning * Growout
10 Hog Health Care
A New Vulnerability * Breed Your Way Back to Vigor * A Health-Care Philosophy * Just the Basics * Veterinary Care * Injections * Parasite Control * Swine Ailments and Illnesses
11 Managing Your Hog Operation
Record Keeping * Marketing Hogs * The Hog Industry: Today and Tomorrow
12 Day-to-Day Life with Hogs
Movin' Hogs the Easy Way * Managing Information * Do It Right the First Time * Take Time to Scratch Their Ears * Goals * Every Pig Is Precious * Buying at Auction * Hog-Farm Fa
