Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 1/8/18



Smithfield Foods announced it has fulfilled its commitment of providing group-housing systems for pregnant sows on all company-owned farms in the United States and released a 360-degree, virtual reality video of its system.

In 2007, Smithfield became the first company to commit to group housing systems. Since then, the company has invested more than $360 million to complete the transition.

In addition to the efforts on U.S. company-owned farms, Smithfield recommends that all of its contract sow growers in the United States transition to group housing by the end of 2022. Smithfield is providing guidance and expertise to contract growers when requested to help them through the conversion process.

Worldwide, Smithfield has pledged to convert all company sow farms by 2022. Operations in Poland and Romania have already completed their conversions to group housing systems, and Smithfield's joint ventures in Mexico are currently working toward the 2022 goal.

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