Modernizing the pig farming industry to make it more efficient and respectable for workers is a key goal. During this year's National People's Congress, Qin Yinglin, an NPC deputy and Chairman of Muyuan, proposed advancing intelligent upgrades in pig farming and constructing a large-scale model for the industry. He stated that China, as a major pig farming country with the necessary conditions for building such models, is the most likely place for the first large pig farming model to emerge.
Qin Yinglin highlighted that China possesses the world's largest pig farming scale and the most extensive frontline data. If a systematic, standardized, and replicable model system can be established, the industry could transition from being experience-driven to model-driven, achieving clear production pathways and standardized management.
According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2025, the number of pigs slaughtered nationwide reached 719.73 million, an increase of 17.16 million head, or 2.4%, compared to the previous year. By the end of 2025, the national pig inventory stood at 429.67 million head, an increase of 2.24 million head, or 0.5%, from the end of the prior year.
Pig farming in China is a traditional industry with a long history. It has evolved from small-scale peasant economy and manual labor to initial mechanization and automation, and now faces the industrial demand for intelligent upgrades.
Qin Yinglin explained that feeding was once one of the most labor-intensive aspects of pig farming. Today, Muyuan utilizes a "pipeline chain + intelligent feeding" system to supply feed to pig herds, eliminating the need for manual handling throughout the process and significantly reducing the physical demands on breeding staff.
Furthermore, complex tasks can also be assigned to AI. Qin Yinglin gave an example of an intelligent inspection robot used by Muyuan, called the "Cough Butler for Pig Herds," which can operate and monitor within units 24/7 without interruption. Upon detecting issues, it promptly alerts breeding engineers, veterinary service personnel, and on-site managers. "AI allows us to quickly replicate our best practices across all farms, serving every pig farming engineer and every farm manager," he said.
Qin Yinglin noted that the pig farming industry relies heavily on human input, involves numerous challenges and variables, and has a clear demand path for technical management. "If China takes the lead in building a large pig farming model, it will not only enhance domestic breeding efficiency but also has the potential to provide a technical paradigm for the global pig farming industry," he added.
He revealed that Muyuan will continue to increase related investments, planning to invest 1 billion yuan annually, totaling 10 billion yuan over ten years, into the research, development, and construction of the large pig farming model. The company also intends to share these advancements with the industry to achieve industrial interconnectivity.
"Muyuan has been focused solely on pig farming for over 30 years, accumulating real, effective, and detailed data across the entire industry chain. This data forms the underlying logic and algorithmic foundation for intelligent breeding. We have a responsibility to share the experience and technology accumulated through practice," Qin Yinglin stated.