From choosing a breed to bringing home the bacon, this approachable, authoritative guide covers every facet of raising pigs--breeding, housing, feeding, healthcare, showing, and marketing.

Pigs were once known as "mortgage lifters," a term that endears them to many small farmers. Whether you want a pig on your property for pleasure or profit, on a small scale or large, this is the book you should have.

From first considerations to last, choosing a breed to bringing home the bacon, this approachable, authoritative guide covers every facet of raising pigs. Whats the story behind the modern pork industry? What are the advantages of raising pigs on a small scale, and what does it take in the way of resources and accommodations?

After delving into these questions, author Philip Hasheider goes into the details of housing, feeding, and caring for pigs, as well as breeding, showing, and marketing them--as a project, a hobby, or a business, or just to have one of these unique porcine characters around the farmyard. His book also includes a glossary of terms, a list of resources, and information about pork organizations, regulations, and ordinances.

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Pigs and People
Chapter 2: Getting Started
Chapter 3: Pork-production Systems—What’s Your Plan?
Chapter 4: Breeds of Pigs
Chapter 5: Pork-production Systems—Organic, Sustainable, and Conventional
Chapter 6: Housing and Facilities
Chapter 7: Fencing and Enclosures
Chapter 8: Nutrient Management
Chapter 9: Breeding and Reproduction
Chapter 10: Feeding for Profit and Production
Chapter 11: Managing Your Pigs
Chapter 12: Marketing Meat
Chapter 13: Home Butchering
Chapter 14: Exit Strategies
Chapter 15: Showing Pigs
Chapter 16: Country Living
Chapter 17: Help and Advice
Appendix 1—Glossary
Appendix 2—Resources

Philip Hasheider has combined his interests in agriculture, cattle, and history to write seven books, including his two most recent in this series, How to Raise Cattle and now How to Raise Pigs. He has written numerous articles for national and international dairy breed publications and has relied upon his 4-H and FFA experience for writing this book.
            Philip was the recipient of the 2005 Book of Merit Award presented by the Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin State Genealogical Society for The Ancestry and Descendants of Alpheus & Sally (Copeland) Bass.
            His diverse work has appeared in the Wisconsin Academy of Review, The Capital Times, Wisconsin State Journal, Sickle & Sheaf, Old Sauk Trails, Sauk Prairie Area Historical Society Newsletter, Sauk Prairie Eagle, and Holstein World.
            He currently farms near Sauk City, Wisconsin, with his wife and two children.

Whether you want a pig for pleasure or profit, on a small scale or large, this is the book you should have. From choosing a breed to bringing home the bacon, this approachable, authoritative guide covers every facet of raising pigs. What’s the story behind the modern pork industry? What are the advantages of raising pigs on a small scale, and what does it take in the way of resources and accommodations? After delving into these questions, author Philip Hasheider goes into the details of housing, feeding, and caring for pigs, as well as breeding, showing, and marketing them.

No matter if your goal is to raise one pig or a herd, the expert advice in this hands-on guidebook will tell you all you need to know. How to Raise Pigs guides readers through swine operations from beginning to end. With more than 200 color photographs, the book covers conventional, sustainable, and organic farming practices.
 
Easy-to-follow advice helps you:
-Choose and buy the pigs suitable for you
-House and feed pigs
-Manage your herd and keep it healthy
-Breed your herd
-Deliver and raise piglets
-Show pigs at fairs and club meets
 
            Since 1928, the National FFA Organization—formerly known as Future Farmers of America—has been dedicated to agricultural education. Today, there are more than 500,000 members in 7,358 chapters in all 50 states, as well as 5,000,000 alumni around the country.
            The contents of this book were reviewed and approved by Dr. Clint Rusk, Purdue University Associate Professor of the Youth Development and Ag. Education Department, in accordance with industry standards.
            Author Philip Hasheider grew up on a cattle and swine farm in southeastern Wisconsin. He currently farms near Sauk City, Wisconsin.

Imprint: Voyageur Press
Distributor: MBI Publishing Company
Publication Date: 04-15-2008
Pages: 192
Measurements: 10.63in X 8.25in X 1.63lb