Contents INTRODUCTION Why Happy Pigs? A Bit about Me About This Book CHAPTER 1 Designing from the Ground Up Seasonal versus Year-Round Operation Breeding or Feeding? Choosing a Pig Breed What Are You Selling? Where Are You Selling? CHAPTER 2 Holistic Hogs A Day in the Life of a Wild Pig A Pig’s-Eye View Wallowing, Rubbing, and Rooting CHAPTER 3 Housing: From Woods to Barn, Shelter Requirements Free Ranging with Minimal Shelter Pasture Huts Hoop Houses Permanent Barns Bedding CHAPTER 4 Fencing and Pasture Systems Why Pasture? RRra Aaa 16 16 20 22, 26 26 28 29 31 33 34 37 37 Pasture Systems Pasture Challenges Pasture Plants Fencing Systems CHAPTER 5 Feeding for Quality and Profit Commercial Total Mixed Rations Homemade Rations Pasture and Nutrition On-Farm Feed Processing Feeding Tips and Techniques CHAPTER 6 Hog Health Care: ‘The Natural and Effective Way ‘The Foundations of Animal Health Preventive Measures ‘Treatment of Illness CHAPTER 7 Midwifery for the Swineherd Sclecting Breed Stock Managing Breed Stock and Breeding Farrowing Piglet Management CHAPTER 8 From Nose to Tail: Understanding Hog Butchery Keeping It Legal Carcass Yield and Quality 39 43 48. 59 69 6 71 90 93 96 99 99 110 112 151 151 156 163 172 181 181 185Slaughtering Pork Cuts Charcuterie CHAPTER Pigs and Piggy Banks: Managing and Marketing Your Business Financial Planning Organic Certification Marketing Distribution CONCLUSION So You Want to Be a Pig Farmer? 189 191 196 199 199 205 209 aa. 215 APPENDIX A: Basic Nutrient Requirements of Swine APPENDIX B: Nutritional Content of Common Organic Feedstuffs APPENDIX C: Sample Record-Keeping Forms Glossary Recommended Resources Notes Index 217 219 223 234 237 241 246