He said the Year of the Pig has significance in the Chinese calendar, and noted that type of jewelry was popular in Asian cultures, but little other information had yet been gleaned from the jewelry.

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Since 2007 was the Year of the Pig, women across the country reportedly timed their pregnancies to give birth to so-called "golden pig babies, " who are said to be blessed with prosperity.

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At the start of the year, new and expensive rules on pig breeding came into force.

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Officials say subsidies aimed at encouraging pig-rearing should cause the pork shortage to ease by the middle of next year.

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