Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 12/23/10

Smithfield Foods on Wednesday released findings of independent and internal investigations into alleged abuse of sows on a company-owned farm in Waverly, Va.

The probes by Murphy-Brown LLC, Smithfield’s livestock production arm, and an independent team of experts including Temple Grandin and Jennifer Woods followed the Dec. 15 release of videotape footage by the Humane Society of the United States. 

The investigation team confirmed that three employees at the Murphy-Brown facility were proven by videotape to have flipped a young pig, struck/poked a sow with a metal gate rod, and ineffectively euthanized an adult sow. Those employees were fired for the “unacceptable behavior,” the investigators said.

The report makes other findings as well as five recommendations for Smithfield, including updating training programs and developing a program for unannounced animal welfare audits by third parties.
To download a copy of the report, click here.
 

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