1968: Started from breeding

Chapter 263 What are you so nervous about? They came to see the pigs, not you!
Seeing that Zhang Zhenhua had no idea about the follow-up plans, Su Wenchen spoke directly.

"Since the chicken farm is temporarily at a standstill, I think our main farm can shift its focus to the pig farm next year to promote the development of pig farming on our farm."

"Of course, you can also try to find a way to transport the chickens from the chicken farm. See if the cardboard factory can provide only the kind of egg trays made of paper pulp and plastic film."

"If not, we can ask the foreign trade department to see how much foreign exchange is needed to import the pulp and plastic film equipment from abroad. If it's cheap, we can help the paper mill apply for a set."

"However, if it's too expensive, then forget it."

Su Wenchen himself was unaware of when those egg trays made by directly molding paper pulp became popular.

However, it's highly unlikely to happen now, because as the largest chicken farming industry in the area, the trucks from the supply and marketing cooperative that transport eggs still use a combination of straw and egg baskets.

For short-distance transportation, the damage rate is actually acceptable.

Of course, the main focus is on short-distance transport. Basically, the chickens are picked up from their chicken farm on the same day and distributed to various factory canteens and placed on the counters of supply and marketing cooperatives in the afternoon.

Even cracked eggs are edible if they haven't been kept overnight.

Cracked eggs are actually quite popular because they are considered defective and don't require egg coupons!

Many urban families with limited means and many children specifically buy these newly delivered cracked eggs.

Anyway, once you buy it, you can cook it, so the impact is actually limited.

However, it's basically impossible for long distances. It's estimated that most of the eggs would be broken by the time they arrive, especially after two or three days. The eggs at the bottom would probably rot and become unsellable.

Upon hearing Su Wenchen's words, Zhang Zhenhua immediately showed an interested expression.

"Director, what is this paper pulp egg tray you mentioned?"

Is it made of cardboard?

Su Wenchen waved his hand.

"It's not cardboard; it's a packaging shell made by directly injection molding paper pulp, forming small, round pits."

"Putting an egg in a small hole can effectively prevent the eggs from colliding with each other."

"I've only heard that foreign egg transport uses this packaging technology, but I don't know if our cardboard factory has adopted it."

However, Su Wenchen estimates that it's a bit risky.

Because now the country is clearly focusing its main efforts on importing agricultural and industrial equipment.

In most areas, there aren't even enough eggs for everyone to eat!

Basically, apart from the supply and marketing cooperatives, probably no other department cares about egg transportation.

It's probably a bit too early to think about long-distance transportation now.

However, Su Wenchen felt that it wouldn't be a bad thing to let Zhang Zhenhua know about this beforehand.

Just because we don't need it now doesn't mean we won't need it in the future, because as things develop, they are destined to go global.

By understanding this in advance, you won't be caught off guard and unsure of what to do when you need it.

Upon hearing Su Wenchen's description, Zhang Zhenhua nodded repeatedly.

"Director, your idea is good. As long as we dig small round holes and put the eggs in them, it will be very effective in preventing the eggs from colliding with each other."

"However, I don't understand what you mean by pulp molding, but we can just find someone to buy some waste cardboard, recut it, and make it into the kind with small round pits."

"Anyway, we can reuse this thing repeatedly."

"Also, let's go collect some waste paper and sell it cheaply to the members of the nearby production brigades. This kind of work is similar to pasting matchboxes, so there must be someone who can do it!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wenchen was taken aback at first, then nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, with labor so cheap now, it's really not necessary to spend foreign exchange to import pulp injection molding equipment."

"You can arrange this yourself! This way, the villagers in the surrounding brigades can have a slightly better life."

"However, if too many people want to do this job, it's best to choose families with poor financial conditions."

Zhang Zhenhua immediately agreed, but still said...

"Director, there aren't that many impoverished communes left in Beiwan now, ever since the province loosened restrictions on family farming."

"After the county issued the notice, Beiwan Commune was the first to respond, and now almost every household raises a lot of rabbits."

"The young rabbits are all purchased from our farm. We can sell them for meat and pelts, so the conditions are much better. However, it's not without its drawbacks. The leaves and weeds that used to be everywhere along the riverbank and field ridges have been cut clean."

"It is even said that in many brigades, members fought over grass, and the fights were only resolved when the commune intervened to demarcate the territory."

"Fortunately, our commune has our farm, so there's no shortage of farmyard manure. It's said that the best-prepared cornfields here this year can yield up to 700 jin per mu!"

"In addition, every household raises rabbits, so there is plenty of fertilizer and the grain yield is very high. Now, almost no one goes hungry. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to find wild vegetables."

"For this, our Beiwan Commune was awarded the title of a high-yield farmland demonstration commune!"

"However, this stuff is not really suitable for widespread use, because even if other communes were exhausted from pooping, they still wouldn't be able to produce this much fertilizer."

Hearing Zhang Zhenhua's words, Yang Wanlou, who was standing next to him, was filled with envy.

The yield is 700 jin per mu, which is almost seven times that of their dilapidated place!
Even though they mainly grow wheat, which is a refined grain, the difference is still significant.

Su Wenchen was not surprised to hear about this yield. Given that the demonstration field was fertile and well-cared for, this yield was not unexpected.

However, this output was indeed enough for everyone in their commune, and every household had surplus grain.

In addition, with the development of more industries in the commune, families in difficulty will generally not go hungry as long as they are not lazy.

Then Su Wenchen looked at the sky and realized it was getting late, so he said directly.

"It's getting late, I can't waste any more time chatting with you guys. Old Zhang, you should take Comrade Wanlou from the branch farm to make some arrangements!"

"Arrange a dormitory for him, and then notify the finance department to allocate funds to the branch farm."

After a pause, Su Wenchen continued.

"Let's allocate 150,000 yuan first!"

"Old Zhang, is 150,000 yuan enough for the main site to maintain daily operations?"

Zhang Zhenhua thought about it.

"We've settled all the accounts for this year's employee welfare purchases, and there's nothing else to spend. We also won't spend much on things like cardboard. Director, if the branch farm needs more, we can send more."

Su Wenchen waved his hand.

"150,000 should be enough. It's mainly for purchasing farm tools and the like. Large machinery like that can only be allocated after an application is made, otherwise you can't even buy second-hand ones."

"By the way, I'm leaving for a meeting in Beijing tomorrow and probably won't be back before the New Year. You can discuss it with the finance department and see which deputy is willing to take up a post at the branch office after the accounts are transferred."

"This is considered an overseas assignment. The farm will provide some extra subsidies, and the staff position can be attached to the main farm. You can be transferred back after two years."

"If anyone is willing to sign up, they can go to the branch site to report after the New Year."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhenhua was taken aback at first, and then immediately responded.

"Okay, I'll have a meeting with a few people in the finance department later to see who's willing to go."

"Director, is there something the department wants to assign?"

Su Wenchen waved his hand.

"I'm not too sure about the specifics, but it should be fine. If anything happens, I'll call the venue in advance."

"Alright, you take Comrade Wanlou to make the arrangements first!"

"I'm going to the pig farm to check on the white pigs."

"Since I'm going to Beijing for a meeting this time, I'll take this opportunity to inform the ministry that the white pig breeding program has been successfully completed."

"We still need to discuss with the ministry how to arrange the promotion, but in any case, it is imperative to expand the scale of pig farms next year."

"Because there will definitely be a lot of farms from various places and regional animal husbandry bureaus coming to borrow pigs next year, you need to ask the farm office to prepare for their reception in advance."

"You know what, the timing of your storefront renovation is actually quite timely."

After separating from Zhang Zhenhua.

Su Wenchen strolled over to the pigsty.

locker room.

The setting sun cast its rays obliquely onto the ventilation openings of the pigsty's changing room, projecting long, thin diamond-shaped patches of light through the neatly arranged ventilation windows.

Su Wenchen took advantage of the brightness reflected in the setting sun.

He took off his cotton-padded coat, put on a clean work uniform, and pushed open the door to the pigsty.

A warm current suddenly rushed over me, carrying with it the sweet and sour smell of fermented feed and a faint smell of pig manure.

As soon as I entered, I saw Xiao Zhou and a zookeeper pushing two small metal carts through the passageway.

The freshly steamed pumpkins in the truck bed, mixed with wheat bran and straw, attracted the pigs in the troughs to pop their heads out and look.

Its pink nose kept rubbing and nudging against the iron fence, leaving streaks of water in its wake.

Su Wenchen walked over and glanced at the metal cab with a smile.

"Hey, even the pigs in our farm are eating pumpkins now."

Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Zhou turned around and, upon seeing Su Wenchen, exclaimed excitedly.

"Director, you're back!"

"This is what Master Fan said. A few days ago, some of the pigs were constipated because they were only eating wheat bran and straw. He asked us to feed them some pumpkin to help with their intestinal absorption."

"And you know what, Director, after adding some pumpkin, the pig's appetite has indeed increased a lot, and the more it eats, the faster it gains weight."

As he spoke, Xiao Zhou continued working, using a specially made concave iron shovel to scoop a shovelful of pig feed from the tin bucket and pour it into the cement trough. Instantly, four or five pigs in the same pen rushed over and began to eat rapidly.

For a time, the sounds of chewing rose and fell, occasionally punctuated by satisfied snoring, alternating in a continuous cycle.

Su Wenchen walked over, looked at the healthy state of the animals, and nodded in approval.

"Not bad, I think they're being raised very well. Just feeding them wheat bran and straw might not be enough nutrition. Adding some pumpkin to the mix can increase the pigs' nutrition and appetite, and it seems to be working."

"Moreover, when the pumpkins are harvested in the fall next year, we can go to the production brigade below to collect more and mix them directly with straw for silage, which can then be used as supplementary feed in the winter."

Pumpkins are actually quite common in their area; most villagers grow them in their vegetable gardens and yards.

Because this stuff has a high sugar content, it's a great ingredient for making porridge or soup in autumn and winter, especially in winter, although storage technology is limited at that time.

Pumpkins can only be stored in cellars, and most homes have limited cellar space. They also need to store potatoes, radishes, and cabbages, which are winter vegetables that can be stored for longer periods. So, the space available for pumpkins is actually quite limited.

So, when various vegetables are in season during the summer and autumn, pumpkins are actually not expensive here.

Hearing Su Wenchen's words, Xiao Zhou nodded.

"Director, you have the same idea as Master Fan. He also mentioned to Section Chief Tan that next year the silage at the pig farm should include more pumpkin and alfalfa."

Upon hearing this, Su Wenchen immediately asked curiously, "Can pigs here be fed alfalfa? How is it? Do the pigs like it?"

If pigs can be fed large quantities of this alfalfa forage, then the branch farm can raise them on a large scale.

Xiao Zhou shook his head.

"They can eat it, but not too much. We've tried it, and if they eat too much, they get bloated and constipated. So our feed preparation team mixes some hay, corn stalks, and soybean meal together and feeds them for a few days, then switches to a mixture of pumpkin, wheat bran, and corn stalks."

"Our main feed in winter is still silage corn stalks, wheat bran and soybean meal, mixed with an appropriate amount of alfalfa and pumpkin."

"According to Master Fan, this method makes them grow much faster than feeding them only straw and wheat bran."

As he spoke, he pointed inside.

"Director, over there are our third-generation white pigs. They're almost a hundred days old now, and look at how big they are—already about the same size as the ten-month-old black pigs here."

“I heard from the veterinary team that they weighed and recorded them a few days ago, and the heaviest one weighed 150 pounds.”

"To be honest, Director, if we hadn't fed them ourselves every day, I wouldn't have believed that the pigs were 100 days old."

"They're growing too fast, but they also eat a lot; we have to feed them four times a day."

Su Wenchen laughed when he heard this.

"They must eat a lot to grow fast, otherwise they could gain weight just by drinking water!"

"Can you still eat that kind of water-injected meat?!"

Hearing Su Wenchen say this, Xiao Zhou nodded and then said.

"Director, but the pork that grows fast doesn't taste as good as the pork that grows slowly."

"It's almost the end of the year! All the pork distributed by our farm this year is from our own pigs. We've slaughtered several of them, and they all have more lean meat and less fat, and much less lard than black pigs."

Su Wenchen nodded. He wasn't surprised by this, because pursuing rapid weight gain inevitably involves sacrificing some things.

It would be strange if pigs raised for only five or six months could taste as good as pigs raised for a full year.

Moreover, this rapid growth definitely means that muscle growth takes precedence over fat growth, so it's normal to have more lean meat.

As the two were talking, they probably noticed that several people were still standing there.

Fan Defu walked briskly over from a distance, and only when he got closer did he realize that it was Su Wenchen.

"Director, it's you!"

"I was wondering why Xiao Zhou and the others were feeding the pigs and then started chatting here halfway through!"

"I thought something had happened to the pig!"

Su Wenchen smiled and waved his hand, then said to Xiao Zhou.

"Alright, I won't disturb you anymore, you guys hurry up and feed the pigs!"

"The people behind them have been shouting at the top of their lungs for a long time."

Seeing Fan Defu approach, Xiao Zhou immediately put the shovel into the tin bucket and pushed the cart toward the entrance of a pigpen.

Su Wenchen and Fan Defu walked along the passageway of the pigsty.

Along the way, the pigs in the pigpen were all different ages, including white pigs, black pigs, and spotted pigs, and they were all different sizes and shapes.

Su Wenchen looked at a live pig in the pigpen and asked as he walked.

"Xiao Zhou just said that the fastest-growing third-generation white pigs are already 150 jin (75 kg)?"

"Have you encountered any problems? And have all the growth records been properly documented?"

Van der Fu looked relaxed.

"There are basically no problems. It's growing very fast and is in very good health!"

After a moment's hesitation, he slowly spoke.

"The biggest problem is that the cooking time is too short, resulting in a high lean meat ratio."

Then Van der Fu said with a wry smile.

"This year's year-end bonuses were so high that many employees said the logistics department had secretly distributed all the fatty meat and deliberately given them the lean meat!"

"It caused quite a stir later."

"Then Deputy Director Miao and Deputy Director Zhang immediately ordered an investigation, and after much investigation, they found that it was a misunderstanding; the pork simply had a high lean meat ratio."

Su Wenchen said with a smile.

"There's nothing we can do about the higher lean meat content. We're lucky to have any meat at all. Why would anyone want to be picky about the lean meat?"

"And once conditions improve and there's no shortage of oil and fat, people will probably start picking out the lean meat to eat."

After all, once most people in later generations had enough oil and fat intake, they didn't like fatty meat as much anymore, and their pursuit of meat shifted from oil and fat to texture and taste.

Moreover, Su Wenchen felt that once everyone's income increased, the farm would shift its focus to breeding delicious black pigs.

However, it is still too early at this stage. At this time, even families with good financial conditions may feel that pigs raised for too short a period of time are not as tasty as pigs raised for a longer period of time.

However, for most rural commune members, if given the choice, they would definitely choose to raise these fast-growing white pigs.

Because they eat meat at most once a year, the deliciousness of the food is definitely secondary to how often they eat it.

Upon hearing this, Van der Fu immediately laughed.

"Director, what you said is absolutely true. Some of our workers really do like to eat lean meat, but to be precise, they like the kind with a good balance of fat and lean meat, the kind that's neither dry nor greasy, just right!"

Su Wenchen smiled and shook his head.

"They all have good taste in food, and they even eat meat with a good balance of fat and lean meat. It's good that they can have meat at all."

However, even Su Wenchen had to admit that this kind of meat with a good balance of fat and lean was indeed the most delicious.

In particular, the longer the pig is raised, the faster the fat deposition rate in the later stages, which seeps into the muscle to form so-called intramuscular fat, also known as marbling. This fat can improve the tenderness, juiciness and aroma of the meat, without making it too greasy.

A while ago, when they were celebrating their successful foreign exchange earnings, they slaughtered a first-generation hybrid pig that they had raised for over a year, and this happened.

However, this requires a long breeding period to be easily achieved; pigs that are ready for market in just a few months are practically unheard of.

As the two were talking, they walked to the pigpen of the third-generation white pigs.

Van der Fu also pointed to several white pigs in the pigsty, his face showing some pride.

"Director, these are the oldest batch of third-generation white pigs."

"The oldest is 107 days old. I weighed him the day before yesterday, and he weighed 162.4 jin."

"However, as I get older, my daily weight gain has slowed down significantly. I estimate that I should be able to reach about 250 to 300 pounds by the time I am six months old."

He then pointed to several local black pigs in the pigpen on the other side.

"At the time, in order to make a comparison, we deliberately raised the same batch of local pigs and fed them the same feed. The heaviest pig weighed 67 jin (38.5 catties)."

Su Wenchen nodded.

"That's good, it's much more intuitive and obvious this way."

"Now, all the breeding records and growth records for the white pigs at our pig farm are ready!"

"I'll take one with me in a bit."

"I happen to be going to Beijing for a meeting this time, so I'll bring it with me and report to the ministry."

"However, I reckon some people won't believe it just by looking at the records. Some might come to see for themselves. If I'm not there, you'll be in charge of liaising with them."

"Just say whatever comes to mind normally. If you don't know something, just blame it on me."

Su Wenchen didn't know if he had any other plans for this trip to the ministry, but he had already planned to use the opportunity to reveal the matter of the white pig.

After all, it's the end of the year, and this can be considered his New Year's gift to the entire country.

The fact that they were able to breed a hybrid lean-type white pig so far ahead of schedule will have a significant impact on their country's meat consumption.

After all, pork is the country's largest source of meat, and it's no exaggeration to say that it's one of the pillars of people's livelihood.

Upon hearing Su Wenchen's words, Fan Defu was stunned. As the third-generation white pig grew faster and faster, Fan Defu had mentally rehearsed this day countless times.

But when the time actually came, he realized that he had overestimated his mental fortitude.

Then, his voice trembled slightly as he asked.

"Director, will the ministry send someone down?"

Although their farm is now a ministry-owned property, the highest-ranking official Van der Fu has ever met is Lei Boliang from the Ministry of Foreign Trade.

Moreover, it was someone I'd seen chatting with Su Wenchen from afar in the cafeteria.

It's impossible for him not to be a little nervous about receiving people coming down from the ministry.

Of course, he wasn't afraid, because they hadn't done anything dishonest or fraudulent.
He is simply an unknown about the future.

I hope he will be rewarded later, but I'm also afraid that something unexpected might happen and the higher-ups won't approve.

After all, he knew very well that most of the work involved in this breeding program was hard work, because Su Wenchen had done the previous work on breeding and crossbreeding.

His job is at most to provide auxiliary care and prevent illnesses; in fact, any experienced caregiver can do this job.

It was precisely because he felt guilty that he had worked so hard that he felt uneasy. If he had truly nurtured them all, he certainly wouldn't feel this way.

Seeing the other person's nervous expression, Su Wenchen patted him on the shoulder.

"Why are you so nervous? They're here to see the pigs, not you!"

When Van der Fu heard this, although he knew that the person hadn't come to see him, he couldn't help but feel nervous. If only it were that easy to control.

Su Wenchen waved his hand.

"Alright, it's getting late. The pig farm is doing well, keep it up. Have someone organize all the documents I mentioned and send them to my office later."

"I'll come and pick it up when I leave tomorrow!"

"By the way, you need to be careful during this period, and you must not have any accidents."

Fan Defu naturally understood Su Wenchen's meaning. After all, if the director here reported it, and then the department came down and found that everything had gone wrong, then he would indeed be unable to explain himself.

He gave a direct and earnest guarantee.

"Director, don't worry, we've already arranged for three shifts to be on duty at the pig farm."

"Moreover, we conduct screenings every day. If any abnormality is found, we immediately isolate the patient and then gradually confirm the diagnosis."

Hearing this, Su Wenchen waved his hand in relief.

"Alright, everyone get ready. Every employee at the pig farm has contributed this time, and the farm will not forget anyone who has made a contribution."

(End of this chapter)