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Expo and Olympics for pigs planned

The Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) said yesterday that it is planning to sponsor a pig exposition in 2007.

The nation's top economic policy planner said the event could be linked to a national exposition. The CEPD's initial estimates show the pig expo would cost about NT$360 million (US$10.68 million), which would make it the largest expo of its type in years.

The Animal Technology Institute, which proposed the idea to the CEPD, said that before the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 1997, the country had 15 million pigs. In the wake of the disease, the number of pigs dropped to around 8 million.

Institute officials said pork is the main source of animal protein for local people, citing statistics to show that Taiwanese consume 40 kg of pork -- about half a pig -- per person per year, compared with only 3.5 kg of beef.

Because of people's love of pork, local technology for raising pigs is world-class, the officials said.

According to the preliminary plan, the 2007 pig expo will include such activities as a photo exhibition of pigs of the world, as well as delicious local and international pork dishes.

There will also be a pig Olympics, in which different species of pigs will be gathered in an arena for competitions. An attempt by 10,000 people producing sausages to gain a niche in the Guinness Book of World Records is also being planned, the officials said.
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