Keeping pigs is a task that requires knowledge, but not necessarily time. Aimed at people with busy schedules this instructive book gives practical information about how to manage a small herd and keep pigs happy and healthy under the time constraints of modern life. The Commuter Pig Keeper is all-inclusive covering various breeds both as breeding herds and food sources. Topics addressed include all aspects of pig rearing, including an in depth look at breeding, housing, and handling techniques. This essential guide also discusses the administrative and business issues of pig keeping, as well as giving advice on contingency planning for when problems occur. Written by a member of the Animal and Plant Health Agency's Pig Expert Group, this book offers useful information for both novice and expert pig keepers.

Advances in Pig Welfare, Second Edition continues its complete coverage of key areas of pig welfare assessment, management and improvement. The book covers both recent developments and reviews of historical welfare issues, with 12 new chapters addressing the most relevant and significant issues from a global perspective. Sections review the needs of pigs, including chapters on the physical environment and the social and emotional needs of the animals, key welfare issues in the pig's lifecycle from birth to slaughter, including weaning, aggression and pig-human interactions, and emerging topics such as prenatal stress, individual differences and organic farming. Final sections cover pig welfare and attitudes towards pig welfare amongst farmers and other stakeholders. Written by an international team of leaders in the field, the book continues to be a useful resource for practicing vets involved in welfare assessment, welfare research scientists and students, and indeed anyone with a professional interest in the welfare of pigs.

This bulletin discusses the structural requirements and space needs for swine housing in the United States. It may be desirable to modify the general recommendations given here, to provide for special local conditions or personal preferences of operators.

The domestic pig is perceived as an animal with intelligence and character and yet, in the industrialized world, the majority of people have had little or no contact with them. Pigs are subject to a wide range of environments from the tropics to the sub-arctic, ranging from small-scale, extensive systems to large-scale intensive systems. They may spend their whole life on one farm or may be subject to long-distance transport multiple times. Not surprisingly, many aspects of their life experiences can impact their welfare. This book brings together a team of leading pig welfare research scientists to review the natural history of the pig, the welfare of pigs at different stages of life and to indicate what the future holds in terms of pig welfare. The text is aimed at researchers and teachers working in veterinary and animal science together with those working in the pig industry and for governmental and non-governmental animal welfare organizations.