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According to the latest estimates, the world’s population is expected to hit 9 billion by 2050. That might prompt some of us to ask, “How will we ever feed that many hungry people, and do so responsibly?”
Our Animal Care Council meets quarterly to review our animal care practices, policies and techniques and to discuss how we can best adapt evolving practices to consistently deliver what we believe to be top-notch care for our animals. Read More
I am very pleased to report that our livestock production subsidiary Murphy-Brown, LLC has made major progress toward the conversion from individual gestation stalls to group housing arrangements for pregnant sows on company farms.
While the conversion slowed during the recent recession due to significant operating losses, at our September 2010 shareholders meeting, Smithfield announced that significant resources had again been committed to the conversion. We also resolved to announce our progress on a regular basis.
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We want to address any concerns you may have regarding accusations from the animal rights group, Humane Society of the United States. We appreciate the opportunity to provide you with current facts so that you can make your own objective assessment of our efforts.
At the outset, I need to point out that HSUS’ accusations about our company not living up to its social responsibility commitments are misleading and baseless. Specifically, HSUS referred to our commitment to phase out gestation stalls, how we treat our animals and our new video series, Taking the Mystery Out of Pork Production. Allow me to address each of these issues. Read More
Did you know that we are in the process of converting our sow housing from individual gestation stalls to group housing? We made this commitment because our customers asked us for it, and we have restarted capital expenditures this year into the conversion process. For those working in the newly modified barns, this conversion to group housing means some new management training and guidelines. Read More
Do you ever watch the Food Network? Do you have your DVR set to record Discovery channel’s How It’s Made?
If you’re like most consumers, you’ve had questions about where your food comes from, and you’ve most likely gone to the Internet or TV to find answers. The development of social media and video sharing in America and around the world has provided a great opportunity for food producers. Read More
Caring for animals is at the core of what we do here at Smithfield, and it is personally important to our employees as well. One great example of an employee with a passion for animals in his professional and personal life is Henry Morris, senior corporate vice president for operations and engineering. When not on the clock, and when not spending time with his wife or his furry best friend Bandit, he spends time serving on the executive board of the Peninsula SPCA in Southeast Virginia. Read More
Workers at a Murphy Brown farm near Waverly, Virginia work on the company’s conversion from gestation stalls for its pregnant sows to group housing. In 2007 the company made a decision, in response to customer requests, to convert all its company-owned farms to group housing - 30% of Smithfield's sows on company-owned farms will be in group housing by the end of 2011.
Construction continues at a Murphy-Brown farm near Waverly, Virginia, as the company persists with its commitment to convert all of its gestation stalls for pregnant sows to group housing. Smithfield made a decision in 2007, in response to customer requests, to convert all its company-owned sow farms to group housing pens and 30% will be finished by the end of 2011.
Our animal care committee visited the farrowing area of one of our Midwestern farms. This is where sows give birth and raise piglets until they are 23 days old, when they are weaned. The bar you see here helps to ensure that the sow doesn't accidentally injure her piglets by lying down on them.
Murphy Brown employees at a farm in Waverly, Virginia, work on the conversion of a barn to group pens. Following customer requests, the company made a decision in 2007 to convert all its company-owned sow farms to group housing for pregnant sows - 30% of Smithfield's sows on company-owned farms will be in group housing by the end of 2011.
At a Circle Four Farms facility near Milford, Utah, pregnant sows are housed in group pens. Following customer requests, the company made a decision in 2007 to convert all its company-owned sow farms to group housing for pregnant sows. Circle Four Farms is a subsidiary of Murphy-Brown, the first hog production company to announce a complete phase-out of gestation stalls at all company-owned farms.
Our animal care committee is comprised of members from across our family of companies with varying areas of expertise related to animal care. They meet quarterly to discuss the care of animals on our farms and at our plants.
Pregnant sows at a Circle Four Farms facility near Milford, Utah, are housed in group pens. Circle Four Farms is a subsidiary of Murphy-Brown, the first hog production company to announce a complete phase-out of gestation stalls for pregnant sows at all company-owned farms.
One type of newly-converted gestation housing is called “pen gestation.” In this system, sows are housed in small groups in one communal area. You can see a sow here taking a drink—our sows have access to as much clean water as they choose at all times.
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