Play with your Food!

A smiling pig makes for tastier bacon!  This excerpt from news.com.au…

PIGS are being given toys to play with in their pens – because happier pigs make tastier pork.

On farms across the UK, pigs are being treated to an array of playthings to bite into – including ropes, footballs traffic cones, rubber boots, chains and even rubber hoses hanging down from the ceiling.

The toys are part of a project funded by the British Pig Executive (BPEX) to improve conditions for pigs.

Anxious pigs release more of the stress hormone cortisol, which affects muscles and so the quality of meat. Pork from stressed pigs is paler and softer.

British pig farmer Meryl Ward said: “If a pig is less stressed you get better-tasting bacon, ham and pork.”

So tickle a pig, play with your pork, make you ham happy, swing your swine…

Okay, I can’t do that anymore (but feel free to add you own in the comments).

Happy Tuesday!  Go Tigers!

photo via wokka on flickriver