The farmyard summit

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is in town today for a summit at Downing Street.

Trade deals are the main focus - it is hoped a package worth more than £1 billion will be signed - with cultural ties and co-operation on issues like climate change also on the agenda. Number 10 insists the touchy subject of human rights will not be ignored either.

But among the trade deals two things caught my eye - chickens and pigs.

David Cameron is hoping China will reopen its market for UK poultry exports, worth around £10 million a year to Britain. A deal to supply 800 breeding pigs is also expected to be signed, building on work by Vince Cable last year to reopen the market for pig meat.

Old MacDonald would be proud.

Craig Woodhouse
Follow me on Twitter @craigawoodhouse