Pig farmer Wu Lubao builds a path to prosperity through pig farming

He never spent a single day in school, yet he kept chasing his dream of prospering through pig farming, mastered a set of unique pig-raising techniques, and became an expert in breeding. He is Wu Lubao, a villager from Majiapo Village, Hupo Town, Maiji District.

Now 48 years old, he went alone to Dacheng County, Hebei Province more than 10 years ago to begin his working life, starting as a pig farm hand and working his way up to being in charge of overall production at the pig farm. After 6 years of learning and accumulation, he not only mastered pig-raising techniques but also gained a clear understanding of the pig market, and acquired the ability to raise live pigs and manage a pig farm. In October 2011, he returned to his hometown and, by borrowing money from relatives and friends and taking out loans, raised 200,000 yuan from various sources and started raising pigs. In November 2011, Wu Lubao invested 20,000 yuan to buy 6 sows and 1 breeding boar. The next year the herd grew to more than 40 head, and by the third year it had grown to more than 200 head. The pig farm grew from small to large, breeding and raising its own stock, embarking on a snowballing path of healthy development.

However, by 2013, when the pigs Wu Lubao was raising reached more than 200 head and he was preparing to throw himself body and soul into expanding his business, the price of meat suddenly fell, feed prices rose, and pork sold slowly. The entire pig market was hit by a "cold snap", and left with no other choice, he sold off his fattened pigs. Faced with the violent ups and downs of the pig market, Wu Lubao never gave up his breeding business.

In 2016, pork prices soared all the way, hitting a nearly 10-year high. Wu Lubao's pig-farming business welcomed its "spring", and that year his income doubled compared with previous years.

Last year's good harvest gave him immense confidence in growing rich and striving for a moderately prosperous life, and this year he bought a batch of sows. On February 25, when a reporter was interviewing in Hupo Town, Maiji District, the reporter met "pig man" Wu Lubao at his pig pens in Majiapo. He was busy inspecting the growth of a litter of piglets. It turned out that on New Year's Eve this year, a sow had successfully given birth to 19 piglets.

Today, Wu Lubao runs his breeding business with great vigor. "At present, the farm has 10 sows, 60 piglets, and 15 fattening pigs. This year's slaughter volume is expected to reach 300 head, generating income of more than 100,000 yuan." Wu Lubao is full of expectations for this year's income.