Porcine playtime proves propitious

Weight is the only criterion so far to judge whether a farmer has done a good job raising pigs - how the hogs are treated will now come into the equation.

A government-funded pilot project to let 400 pigs in confinement play with toys is part of efforts to promote animal welfare.

Most pigs in China are raised in household farms, sometimes under poor sanitary conditions and inconsistent breeding patterns, resulting in diseases and poor pork quality.