A fruit seller in northern China has gone viral after revealing that he regularly feeds durians to his sheep, sparking amazement and envy among social media users.
The unusual practice was uncovered in Xingtai, Hebei Province, where local businessman Zhao has been using unsellable Thai durians as animal feed for the past two years.
Videos shared online show dozens of sheep eagerly devouring the golden-yellow durian flesh, prompting thousands of comments from stunned viewers.
Many joked that the sheep were living a more luxurious lifestyle than most people, with some writing: “The sheep are eating better than humans,” while others joked that they wished they could be reborn as one of Zhao’s sheep.
According to Chinese media reports, Zhao imports premium-grade Thai durians, purchasing between 150 and 200 boxes at a time. However, some fruits inevitably become damaged during transportation or storage, including cracked fruits, under-ripened durians and spoiled varieties that cannot be sold to customers.
Rather than throwing them away, Zhao began feeding the rejected fruits to his flock of more than 30 sheep.
He said the animals are primarily raised on fresh grass and wheat seedlings, while durians, along with near-expiry bananas, watermelons and other fruits, are served as special treats two to three times a week.
What started as a way to reduce waste has reportedly produced an unexpected result.
Zhao claims that after two years of consuming fruit-rich diets, the sheep’s meat has become noticeably more tender and developed a subtle sweetness.
More surprisingly, he said the strong gamey odour commonly associated with mutton has been significantly reduced.
Most of the meat is consumed by Zhao’s family and close friends, although he occasionally sells it to neighbours and regular customers when he slaughters a sheep.
He said the so-called “fruit-fed lamb” sells for around 50 yuan per catty (500g), or about 25 yuan per kilogram, and is usually snapped up quickly due to its reputation for superior quality.
The story has generated widespread discussion online, with many netizens amused by the idea that a kilogram of mutton could cost less than a kilogram of the durian used to feed the animals.
Experts have also highlighted the practice as an example of a circular economy approach, transforming food waste into valuable livestock feed instead of allowing it to go to waste.
The viral videos continue to attract attention as social media users marvel at what many have dubbed China’s most pampered sheep.
