Free-range music pigs, villagers sell for a good price

Deep in the mountains at an altitude of more than 800 m in Yeguang Village, Long'an Town, Linshui County, a scene plays out every two or three days: a man carries half a bag of corn up the mountain, scatters the corn outside a simple shed pen, and a group of mud-covered Xiang pigs, as if by unspoken agreement, come running from all directions to "forage".

The man is named Deng Youquan, 46 years old this year, and this group of "mud pigs" are the "music pigs" he free-ranges in the mountains. "The pigs run all over the mountains all day long, and the grass roots and mud on the mountain are their favorite food." Deng Youquan said pigs are social animals and often move in groups of three or four, so free-ranging them deep in the mountains is very safe. "They are so smart. During the day they forage in the mountains, and when it gets dark they return to the pen on their own. Their wild survival skills are no small matter, and my input costs are also very low!"

In Deng Youquan's view, the reason these pigs that "make the mountain their home" are so smart is that he insists on playing soft music to soothe their emotions. How did he come up with the idea of playing music for pigs? Deng Youquan said it came from an accidental discovery.

3 years ago, Deng Youquan, who had returned home to start a business, read in a newspaper that playing music is good for the growth of pigs, so he immediately ran wires in the forest, installed speakers, and started experimenting. "These pigs really do have a 'musical gift.' Under the influence of music, they have become gentler and gentler in temperament, and their appetite has also increased!" Deng Youquan said, pointing at several pigs playing in the woods. "When they listen to songs, their tails keep wagging, and some pigs even roll on the ground 'dancing'!"

In 2013, the novelty of Deng Youquan playing songs for his pigs spread widely, and the "music pigs" made a name for themselves in the market. Customers all said the pigs he free-ranges have "tender meat, fatty but not greasy." In 2013, his free-range "music pigs" sold for 80 yuan per kg, and his annual income reached as high as 700,000 to 800,000 yuan.

Deng Youquan said this year's free-range "music pigs" were fully booked 4 months ago, mostly by regular customers from ** and Chongqing. Starting next year, he will switch to raising hybrids of black pigs, wild boars and Landrace pigs to further improve their wild survival ability.