It's a pig's life, dammit!

Just when the thought we heard the last of the Olympic pigs, we found this headline from Beijing Daily just screaming at us while we were scanning the Chinese news yesterday:

北京提升猪肉产品质量 生猪入圈静养听音乐
To improve pork quality, Beijing pigs will listen to soothing music

So apart from getting fed an organic diet and being put through a daily exercise regime, it appears the pigs will get to hear soothing music while being bathed each day!

Said a spokesperson of one of the 10 Olympic pig farms (whose locations are a top secret):

“生猪入圈后进行24小时静养，听着舒缓的音乐淋浴、饮水，目的是减少应激反应，避免猪肉中出现不良物质。”
The pigs are kept under 24-hour care. They wlll listen to soothing music while being bathed or drinking their water. This is to reduce their stress reactions and to avoid bad substances from appearing in the pork.

It's been a looooong time since we last pampered ourselves with a spa package, but hey these pigs are lucky! Alas, the spokesperson didn't elucidate what music the pigs will get to hear. We heard Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” or Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” will make babies smarter, but we haven't heard of any research being done for pigs yet. Maybe Chinese scientists will take the lead here?

Previously on Shanghaiist
Of pigs and men
Chinese scientists create glow in the dark pigs
Do you know what your pigs are eating?

Related links
Beijing Daily: 北京提升猪肉产品质量 生猪入圈静养听音乐
Wall Street Journal: Chinese bloggers stew about Olympic pigs