Chapter 3 - the first taste

Steve began the trials immediately, carefully measuring the new feed and putting it into the pen. He had never fed any of his piglets so little before and felt uneasy about it. Still, he shrugged off his concerns and carried on his rounds with the remaining farm.

It wasn't until a fortnight later when Steve noticed a considerable visible difference between his usual piglets and the ones on the trial feed. They were heavier, plumper and more muscular than the others, growing at a seemingly faster rate than Steve had seen before. He looked around at them all in disbelief. Did this stuff really work?

He went back to the barn and looked at the packaging for the feed. Then, he heaved a heavy packet up and tried to unpick the list of ingredients; but even after ten years in the business, he still had no clue what made this feed so effective. He reached in a pulled out a biscuit, putting it to his nose to smell it. It didn't seem at all special, just a little salty perhaps. He smelt it again and then placed it to his lips, thinking that he may be able to 'taste' what was in it to make the feed so good. He bit down on half of the biscuit, slowing crunching as the flavours filled his mouth. The dry biscuit seemed to turn into a creamy liquid almost instantly and it slid down his throat without protest. Damn! They tasted pretty good!

Steve looked at the remaining half in his hand and smiled. No wonder the pigs loved them. He surveyed it a final time and then shrugged his shoulders, popping the second half in. He groaned as the creamy flavours filled his mouth and once again slid down his throat. Steve had to admit, he might have been wrong to doubt this stuff.

Kate hadn't arranged anything with Steve, she simply turned up one morning, expecting Steve to drop everything. "How are the pigs coming along?" she asked, striding towards the building they were kept in.

Steve strutted over to follow her as they both gazed at the difference one month had made.

"Yeah, they're right on track!" Kate smiled. "Exactly as we've seen in the trials, I'd say."

Steve was doing some of the more messy jobs around the farm today and so he was wearing his overalls, with the top half draped around his waist, exposing his muscular chest in the heat of the day. Kate stared at him quizzically for a second and then turned her attention back to the pigs. "Keep at it!" she finished, gliding back to her car after her two minute visit.

"Don't you want to weigh any of them?" Steve called back.

"No, no, I'm happy with what I have seen," Kate yelled. She was a busy woman, with places to be.

Steve watched as Kate drove off, sliding his hand into his pocket to fish out one of the pigs' special biscuits he had made a habit of keeping in there. He popped one in to his mouth and sighed happily as it melted on his tongue. They really were so nice.