Raising Pigs Successfully

by Kathy Kellogg

Everything the home hog-raiser needs to know, with innovative ideas and insights gained through years of experience.

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1985

Reviews

[Kristina Seleshanko · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really useful guide, written by people who raised a small number of pigs (2-6) for years. I especially like how the authors tell us what friends or acquaintances have done, but also what (often conversely) worked best for them. The book is slightly dated (written in the 1980s); the prices given are way off from today's and the authors once mention how dangerous pressure cookers are - but otherwise, it's still a very useful guide. Covers everything from buying piglets, housing them, feeding them (including pasturing), basic health care ideas, and even thoughts on managing their manure (mostly composting and turning into bio fuel). The authors caution against beginners trying to mate pigs and raise piglets (due to low success rates), but do offer a chapter with basic guidelines for doing this. Little mention is made of heritage breeds.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple but more than adequate guide to raising pigs on a small farm level. It would do well on my "future farming reference shelf." (Doesn't everyone have one of those shelves?) My only complaint is a minor one-a lack of color photographs, especially in the section on different breeds of swine.