Safe Transportation

How we transport our animals from farms to processing plants is an important element of our animal care program. Each year, Smithfield’s subsidiaries’ approximately 140 company-owned trailers and 245 contract haulers log many miles transporting live animals from farms to processing plants.

All drivers who transport our animals must be trained and certified under the National Pork Board’s Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) program, which provides education for transporters, producers, and animal handlers on all aspects of hog handling and transportation.

We comply strictly with federal animal transport time guidelines and have systems in place to maximize the comfort and safety of our animals. For example, we maintain animal comfort in hot weather by strategically placing fans and water misters; in colder months, we protect animals with added panels and extra bedding.

Transportation Accidents Involving Market Hogs

Safe Transportation Smithfield Foods

All values reported by fiscal year. 2007 and 2008 data do not include Murphy-Brown subsidiary Premium Standard Farms.

Although infrequent, accidents can happen. Several years ago, we revamped our live-haul accident-response procedures into what are widely regarded by animal care experts as the best in the industry. As an example, Murphy-Brown has pre-positioned five equipment trailers, known as “rescue units,” in key areas where our business activity is concentrated. These trailers are stocked with a variety of equipment, such as lights, penning equipment, saws, generators, and other devices that are needed when a truck carrying our animals is involved in an accident. When an accident occurs, designated company employees are dispatched to pick up a rescue truck and bring it to the accident site. Our aim is to have a rescue unit arrive at an accident site within the first hour of the incident. Injured animals that are humanely euthanized do not go into the food supply.

Photos

Construction at a Smithfield farm in Waverly, VA as part of an effort to convert gestation stalls to group housing

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.

Progress being made at Waverly, VA farm as part of Smithfield Foods' transition to group housing pens

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.

Pregnant sows in group housing pens at a Smithfield farm in Utah

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.

Animal Care Committee Meeting

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.

Conversion from gestation stalls to group housing at a Smithfield farm in Waverly, VA

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.

Group housing pens for sows at a Smithfield farm in Milford, Utah

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.

"Open Pen" Group Housing

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.

Farrowing area

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.

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