It hasn't said how that translates into percentage of sows it houses on farms.
It converted another 10 per cent of its farms last year and intends to have them all converted by next year.
It has also told its contract suppliers they need to be
converted by 2022 and is offering “guidance and expertise”.
The Humane Society of the United States pressured retailers
and pork packers to ban sow gestation crates and Smithfield fell in line, along
with most others across North America.
“At Smithfield Foods, we are committed to keeping animals
safe, comfortable and healthy," said Ken Sullivan, Smithfield Foods
president and chief executive officer.
"As the world's largest pork producer, we have a
responsibility to be a leader in animal care, and we view our conversion of the
pregnant sow housing system as a key component of our dedication to this
goal."
There continues to be sharply-divided opinion about the
housing systems HSUS pressures farmers to adopt, including a ban on caging
egg-laying hens.
Sows that are housed in gestation stalls can have their
diets carefully controlled to meet their needs and they are protected from
bullying that can cause injuries and loss of t their feed to the bullies.
Hens that are housed on open floors with perches available
suffer more infections and diseases from walking in poop and parasites and
break wings when they have accidents trying to fly to perches.
Researchers and farmers have made strides in improving
welfare for sows housed together in pens and hens cooped in aviaries.
