Smithfield Foods Inc. is asking its contract growers to have
their sow barns converted out of gestation stalls by 2022.
Converting will be required for contract renewals, although
instead of citing it as a penalty, Smithfield calls it an “incentive” to
convert.
Smithfield is making the move because many large-volume pork
buyers, such as supermarket and restaurant chains, have committed to buying
only pork from farms that no longer use gestation stalls.
They have done that under pressure from the Humane Society
of the United States.
There are similar pressures in Canada where hog-packer
Olymel has committed to eventually buying only from farmers who don’t use
gestation stalls and where a number of retailers have joined the campaign.
Canada has national codes of practice for animal welfare and
hog farmers are anxiously awaiting the final position on revisions. The draft
revisions called for phasing out gestation crates, but would allow them to be
used short term.
There are conflicting opinions about whether gestation
crates or pen housing is safer and better for sow welfare.
