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pigs

Best Pig Reference Book

Jackson Bradley

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I have my "go to" reference books that I like to read through often. While I read a lot on here and other books, normally I retain one printed book that covers that animal very well. This includes books like "Rodale book of composting" for example. "The small scale poultry flock" by Ussery, is an example of my reference book for chickens.

These references come from a regenerative or permie point of view, typically.

What is your go to reference for raising pigs?

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Anne Miller

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The forum has a official permies.com Book Review Grid with more than 100 books listed:

https://permies.com/w/book-reviews

Here is a post with some recommendations:

https://permies.com/t/36607/books-pigs-homesteading-small-farming

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John F Dean

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My primary reference is Permies.

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Kate Downham

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I've yet to find anything really great about pigs.

I have Dirk Van Loon's "Small Scale Pig Raising" which is good for some things, great if you're just wanting to cheaply raise a couple of piglets, but it doesn't cover everything I want to know. I got "Happy Pigs Taste Better" from the library once, but that is written more for the commercial producer, and I did not like the way she handled some topics.

John Moody was writing a pig book for homesteaders, which I was looking forward to, but I'm not sure what happened with that. Hopefully it will be published one day.

Does anyone have Storey's guide to pigs? Their guides that I have read haven't been completely permie-friendly, but tend to cover a lot of different topics so I'm wondering if the pig one is worth reading.

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Jackson Bradley

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Kate Downham wrote:
I got "Happy Pigs Taste Better" from the library once, but that is written more for the commercial producer, and I did not like the way she handled some topics.

Does anyone have Storey's guide to pigs? Their guides that I have read haven't been completely permie-friendly, but tend to cover a lot of different topics so I'm wondering if the pig one is worth reading.

I have heard that about the happy pigs taste better.

I ordered Storeys guide since it was recommended above. I'll update here after I read it.

"Condemnation by category is the lowest form of hatred for it is cold hearted and abstract, lacking the heat and even the courage of a personal hatred." -Wendell Berry

Jenna Guy

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While not centered solely on pigs, Joel Salatins books go into all livestock care, including pigs. He describes how he uses them in his composting system in "You Can Farm"and "Folks, This Ain't Normal", and also has a book titled "The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs" although I haven't read that one yet. A lot of the writing is more about the abomination of the factory farming model and what we can do to move past that.

Jackson Bradley

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Folk Rock Farm wrote:also has a book titled "The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs" although I haven't read that one yet. A lot of the writing is more about the abomination of the factory farming model and what we can do to move past that.

I have read that one. It is more of a philosophical book, like you say, to move the thinking from a feeding operation mindset to allowing the animals to exhibit their natural behavior.

"Condemnation by category is the lowest form of hatred for it is cold hearted and abstract, lacking the heat and even the courage of a personal hatred." -Wendell Berry

Jackson Bradley

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I received some of the recommended books today. Storeys guide to raising pigs (4th edition) and homegrown pork. I have another reference coming in a week or so.

I do not think these are in the book grid. What would be helpful to see as far as a review? Should they be in the book grid?

The current review would be from me, as a homesteader, with no pig experience. Later, I will update after having pig experience. I can wait until then if it would be most beneficial that way.

If they are already reviewed, great. I did not see them on the book grid.

"Condemnation by category is the lowest form of hatred for it is cold hearted and abstract, lacking the heat and even the courage of a personal hatred." -Wendell Berry

Kate Downham

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If you'd like to do a review for a book that isn't in the review grid, you can make a quick wiki page for the book in the 'books' forum, and then post your review below it, starting with 'i give this book x(number) out of 10 acorns' and then it will turn up in the grid.

The wiki doesn't have to be as detailed or shiny-looking as other wikis, it just helps to get the cover image and copy/paste the blurb up, and maybe a link to Amazon for it.

To make a wiki, just start making a new thread, and in the tick boxes below the bit you write the post in, there's an option to tick about making it a wiki.

I look forward to reading your reviews.

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