Among the first creatures to help humans attain the goal of having enough to eat was the pig, which provided not simply enough, but general abundance. Domesticated early and easily, herds grew at astonishing rates (only rabbits are more prolific). Then, as people spread around the globe, pigs and traditions went with them, with pigs making themselves at home wherever explorers or settlers carried them. Today, pork is the most commonly consumed meat in the world—and no one else in the world produces more pork than the American Midwest. Pigs and pork feature prominently in many cuisines and are restricted by others. In the U.S. during the early1900s, pork began to lose its preeminence to beef, but today, we are witnessing a resurgence of interest in pork, with talented chefs creating delicacies out of every part of the pig. Still, while people enjoy “pigging out,” few know much about hog history, and fewer still know of the creatures’ impact on the world, and specifically the Midwest. From brats in Wisconsin to tenderloin in Iowa, barbecue in Kansas City to porketta in the Iron Range to goetta in Cincinnati, the Midwest is almost defined by pork. Here, tracking the history of pig as pork, Cynthia Clampitt offers a fun, interesting, and tasty look at pigs as culture, calling, and cuisine.

Whilst it can mean enhanced biosecurity, more intensive and globalised pig production (based on a narrowing genetic base) also potentially increases the risk of disease and its spread. It has been estimated that production diseases can lower pig production efficiency by 10-15%, though financial losses can be much greater. The sector must allocate more resources to the creation and development of preventative measures that can be used to tackle the threat of disease. Optimising pig herd health and production provides a comprehensive review of the wealth of research on optimising pig health to prevent the development and consequent spread of diseases that can devastate the industry, such as African Swine Fever (ASF) and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). Chapters in this volume consider the methods used to prevent disease outbreaks, ranging from on-farm strategies, such as managing feed, housing and stocking density to optimise health, to the development and use of vaccines.

Given the current worsening of the African swine fever situation worldwide, this field manual will be aimed to assist veterinarians in the prompt recognition and detection of the disease and the immediate control steps at farm level.

Did you know that pigs are smarter than your average 3-year-old? In this pocket-sized guide, you’ll discover loads of interesting facts about 29 popular breeds of pigs, including their appearance, history and breeding, and details of its personality. From the American Guinea Hog who loves a good belly rub, to the hardy Yorkshire who is happiest foraging outdoors, this fully revised and updated edition is a fascinating and fun guide that will turn both young and old into a pig enthusiast.

"In loving yet unsentimental prose, Sy Montgomery captures the richness that animals bring to the human experience. Sometimes it takes a too-smart-for-his-own-good pig to open our eyes to what most matters in life.” —John Grogan, author of Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog A naturalist who spent months at a time living on her own among wild creatures in remote jungles, Sy Montgomery had always felt more comfortable with animals than with people. So she gladly opened her heart to a sick piglet who had been crowded away from nourishing meals by his stronger siblings. Yet Sy had no inkling that this piglet, later named Christopher Hogwood, would not only survive but flourish—and she soon found herself engaged with her small-town community in ways she had never dreamed possible. Unexpectedly, Christopher provided this peripatetic traveler with something she had sought all her life: an anchor (eventually weighing 750 pounds) to family and home. The Good Good Pig celebrates Christopher Hogwood in all his glory, from his inauspicious infancy to hog heaven in rural New Hampshire, where his boundless zest for life and his large, loving heart made him absolute monarch over a (mostly) peaceable kingdom. At first, his domain included only Sy’s cosseted hens and her beautiful border collie, Tess. Then the neighbors began fetching Christopher home from his unauthorized jaunts, the little girls next door started giving him warm, soapy baths, and the villagers brought him delicious leftovers. His intelligence and fame increased along with his girth. He was featured in USA Today and on several National Public Radio environmental programs. On election day, some voters even wrote in Christopher’s name on their ballots. But as this enchanting book describes, Christopher Hogwood’s influence extended far beyond celebrity; for he was, as a friend said, a great big Buddha master. Sy reveals what she and others learned from this generous soul who just so happened to be a pig—lessons about self-acceptance, the meaning of family, the value of community, and the pleasures of the sweet green Earth. The Good Good Pig provides proof that with love, almost anything is possible.

Raising a pig for meat is easy to do, even in a small space like a suburban backyard. In just five months, a 30-pound shoat will become a 250-pound hog and provide you with more than 100 pounds of pork, including tenderloin, ham, ribs, bacon, sausage, and more. Homegrown Pork covers everything you need to know to raise your own pig, from selecting a breed to feeding, housing, fencing, health care, and humane processing. Invite all your friends over for a healthy and succulent pork dinner!

Alternative Swine Management Systems examines technologically humane substitutions for swine production, focusing specifically on hoop structure systems. Benefits of these alternatives include enhanced animal welfare and reduced capital cost. From small holders involved in low input pig farms, to larger commercial operations, this book instructs users on new technology to improve the quality of animal production, animal welfare and environmental protection points. - Offers economically efficient, environmentally stable, and socially acceptable alternatives to swine farming - Extends regions and climactic conditions for any swine farm location - Provides an ideal resource for animal and veterinary science researchers and engineers, as well as swine farm management