Posted January 14, 2014
Smithfield Foods, Inc. is recommending that all of its
contract sow growers follow the company’s lead in converting their facilities
to group housing for pregnant sows, according to an article by Global Newswire
available here.
Smithfield said it is asking contract growers to
convert their facilities by 2022 with a “sliding scale of incentives to
accelerate that timetable. Growers who
commit to convert to group housing will receive contract extensions upon
completion of the conversion.”
Smithfield reported that Murphy-Brown LLC, its hog
production subsidiary, had converted 54% of the facilities for pregnant sows on
company-owned farms. The company began
the transition in 2007 and was the first major pork supplier to commit to
transitioning to group housing systems.
Dennis H. Treacy, executive vice president and chief
sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods said, “In line with our animal care
initiatives and sustainability goals, and in order to meet the needs of our
customers, we believe that it is now time to encourage conversion of pregnant
sow housing systems at contract sow grower facilities.”
Tyson Foods recently sent a letter to hog suppliers,
recommending that farmers provide more space for pregnant sows, according to an
Agri-Pulse article available here. The letter is available here.
The letter stated: “Whether it involves gestation
stalls, pens or some other type of housing, we believe future sow housing
should allow sows of all sizes to stand, turn around, lie down and stretch
their legs.”
Tyson will also require contract growers who manage
company-owned sows to “end the use of blunt force euthanasia” for sick and
injured piglets and encouraged all pork producers to end this practice.
For more information on animal welfare, please visit
the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
