Maple Leaf Foods said it has spent $55 million converting 31 barns to loose housing for 40,000 sows.
It said it “is on track to transition all sows under its management by the end of 2021 and become the first large-scale producer to achieve this milestone in North America.”
The conversions began after animal welfare groups pressured retailers, such as McDonald’s and Loblaws, to commit to marketing only pork that has been raised without putting gestating sows into stalls.
Maple Leaf said it’s conversions “will position Maple Leaf to be a supplier of choice to retail and foodservice customers across North America, well ahead of their deadline to only sourcing pork from open housing systems by 2024, and to meet the requirements of the National Farm Animal Care Council Code of Practice.”
