The pork market has grown in China over the last few years, making the country turn to new alternatives when it comes to the booming industry. Chinese authorities are launching multiple 26-storey pig hotels in order to keep up with the growing market.
Beijing is looking at creating a number of large buildings that will home the animals. This idea was brought forward as a way to reduce land use for farming as China continues to reach the increasing demand for meat.
In the central city of Ezhou, a company called Hubei Zhongxinkaiwei Modern Farming has constructed a towering high-rise which is said to come with air conditioning and ventilated floors. They will also include maternity facilities for the animals.
Hubei Zhongxinkaiwei Modern Farming’s nearly $550 million project was started two years ago and was launched in a bid to overcome limited land. When swine flu swept across the country’s pig herds in 2019, Beijing authorized the use of multi-storey facilities for hog breeding.
Since then, the number of skyrise pig farms has increased annually by 30 percent. Despite being an innovative way of farming, these breeding facilities will cost more to build than normal pig farms. However, authorities say it’s worth the cost in areas where there is a lack of space.
Although being touted as an efficient and low-carbon way to grow the market, the skyscrapers have caused some backlash from activists, with a petition launched opposing the plans. A French campaign has received over 19,000 signatures so far, with many others calling the buildings “heartbreaking.”
One person said: “That is heartbreaking! I love meat but only from places where the livestock is treated well. So glad we have small farms here they care for the animals we can buy direct from. Thank you for all you do!!”
There are around 170 multistorey pig farms in the southern province of Guangdong.
Source: https://youtu.be/YZ1_qddejcQ