Scientists have begun the search for the pig with the best legs to strut her stuff on the catwalk.
A project to improve health and welfare on UK pig farms has been launched by Newcastle University, using technology from Hollywood blockbusters such as Avatar and Lord Of The Rings.
Experts have filmed animals walking along a catwalk and analysed in great detail the angle of their joints and the length of their stride.
Bringing home the bacon: The pigs' walk was analysed by scientists
They used video motion capture to get an accurate picture of how the pigs move along the runway.
The aim was to assess what constitutes good gait in pigs, as compared to pigs that have mobility problems. The idea is to reduce lameness, which is currently a major problem in the pig industry - particularly in sows.
Presenting the findings at the 22nd International Pig Veterinary Society Congress in Korea, Sophia Stavrakakis, who carried out the research as part of her PhD, said: "Lameness among livestock is a major problem for farmers.
"Female breeding pigs are particularly prone to leg problems and this makes it costly for farmers when an animal becomes lame because of the time and money invested in the breeding stock.
"Using biomechanical motion capture we are able to measure the animals' gait - tracking a number of animals to find the right angulation and locomotion.
Pork life: PhD researcher Sophia Stavrakakis
"Through this we hope to be able to develop a farmer-friendly system that will allow them to identify those pigs with better legs, a trait that can be passed on to subsequent generations."
Lameness is a good indicator of general well-being in livestock and is the second most common reason for sows leaving the breeding herd.
Animals which do not respond to treatment are routinely put down.
As part of the study, the pigs were trained to walk along a runway by animal technician Mark Brett, a former zoo keeper who is now based at the University's Cockle Park Farm.
Once the pigs had learned to walk at the right speed, the team attached reflective markers at key points on their legs and used motion capture cameras to track their movement and identify those parameters which can indicate a good pig.
The results provide an initial benchmark against which other pigs can be assessed.
"Making sure the pigs all walked at the same pace was crucial because otherwise you can't accurately compare leg movement and angles," said Dr Jonathan Guy, a lecturer in animal science and project supervisor.
It is hoped that in the future pig farmers could film their own livestock walking past a camera and use the research findings to check for pigs that walk well.