Fergyus Haui, the 43-year-old farmer-breeder from the County of Essex, has appealed to Oxford English dictionary authors to remove from the book some words and expressions which can discredit pigs.
The farmer considers that expressions like eat like a pig («is as a pig»), pig-out («gluttony») and porker («fat as a pig») aren't true and can make harm to his business. Most of Britons love pork, but only 30% of people buy it every week as they believe that this meat is fat. However it is not true, the breeder claims: pigs are 44 per cent leaner as they were in the 1970s. Also he dispels one more stereotype about pigs: they are very picky in food and consume only healthy things.
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), has proved recently that modern pigs are more slim and compact in comparison with their ancestors.
In the 19th century pork fat and fat were the main lubricants and were equated to money therefore breeders tried to grow as well-fed animals as possible. However today absolutely other requirements are imposed to pigs: carcass has to have large muscles and minimum fat layer. «I can tell on behalf of all breeders, pork is very, very lean meat. There is no that fat as there was hundred years ago» — DailyMail quotes.
By the way, there are really comfortable conditions on his farm for the pigs, nobody could even dream of it in the 19th century. The breeder grows barley and wheat for pigs fodder himself and a balanced diet for them is created by a nutritionist. Besides, all pigs on Fergyus's farm have continuous access to the outdoors that allows them to move and exercise as much as they want.