Farmer touts benefits of diving for pigs

Pigs jump from a wooden diving platform in Ningxiang county, Hunan province, Nov 11, 2012. [Photo by Guo Guoquan/Asianewsphoto]

Diving helps pigs improve their immunity against disease and improves the quality of the pork — at least according to a farmer in Central China’s Hunan province, said a report from News.163.com---the NetEase website.

Huang Demin has built a 3-meter-tall wooden diving platform close to his pigsty in Ningxiang county so his livestock can dive on a daily basis.

Huang has to push his pigs hard to jump from the platform, as most do not seem to enjoy the airborne experience, he said. But he added that he believes diving can help the pigs eat more food and grow faster.

Huang also has an economic motivation — he sells the pork from his diving pigs at three times the price of normal pigs at market. His handmade platform is also now a tourist attraction.

Huang Demin cleans his pigsty in Ningxiang county, Hunan province, Nov 11, 2012. [Photo by Guo Guoquan/Asianewsphoto]

Huang Demin drives pigs to jump into a pond in Ningxiang county, Hunan province, Nov 11, 2012. [Photo by Guo Guoquan/Asianewsphoto]