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Red plastic balls are helping to keep pigs happy down on the farm. Farmyard
football reduces stress and violence among pigs – an effect that has not
been observed in the human species. Despite the energy the animals expend
playing the game, the footballing pigs put on weight faster than those that
do not have a ball to play with – doing more to save England’s bacon than
the current squad.

Bernard Hoggarth, of the animal feed firm Cranswick Mill, says that
when the pigs get bored ‘they turn their attention to the ball rather than
their neighbour’s tail or ears’. Hoggarth is vice-president of York City
football club.

Hoggarth imports the plastic balls from Denmark. A ball bearing inside
attracts an animal’s attention and the plastic is strong enough not to be
damaged by pigs’ teeth. Meanwhile the team at Cranswick Mill is taking every
game as it comes.