What's Happening Now - Everything we're up to throughout the year.

Animal Care, International, International Hog Production, Murphy-Brown

January 3, 2013

Sow Housing Conversion Update

We are pleased to announce that as of the end of 2012, we have successfully transitioned 38% of pregnant sows on our company-owned farms in the United States from individual gestation stalls to group housing systems. We continue to remain on track to finish our conversion to group housing on all company-owned farms in the U.S. by 2017.

Additionally, our company-owned international hog production operations also will complete their conversions from gestation stalls to group housing on company-owned farms by 2022. Our hog production operations in Poland and Romania completed their conversions to group housing facilities on company-owned farms a number of years ago and our Granjas Carroll de México (GCM) and Norson joint ventures in Mexico are committed to phasing out gestation stalls on company-owned farms by 2022.

To read more about sow gestation at our farms, click here.

Sow Farm--Taking the Mystery Out of Pork Production at Smithfield Foods

Piglets begin their life on a sow farm, a place for pregnant mother pigs and their newly born young. Watch the process from the beginning and see how we ensure our piglets and sows remain healthy and comfortable. _______________________________________ If you'd like to give feedback about our videos or have other comments you'd like to share with us, please feel free to contact us via our corporate website, our Facebook page, or our Twitter account, found at the links below. http://smithfieldfoods.com/ http://www.facebook.com/SmithfieldFoods http://twitter.com/SmithfieldFoods

Nursery Farm---Taking the Mystery Out of Pork Production at Smithfield Foods

After being weaned, piglets are moved to a "nursery farm" until they weigh approximately 50 pounds. See what happens on a nursery farm, and some of the techniques we've adopted to ensure their health, comfort and safety. _______________________________________ If you'd like to give feedback about our videos or have other comments you'd like to share with us, please feel free to contact us via our corporate website, our Facebook page, or our Twitter account, found at the links below. http://smithfieldfoods.com/ http://www.facebook.com/SmithfieldFoods http://twitter.com/SmithfieldFoods

Group housing pens for sows at a Smithfield farm in Milford, Utah

At a Circle Four Farms facility near Milford, Utah, pregnant sows are housed in group pens. Following customer requests, the company made a decision in 2007 to convert all its company-owned sow farms to group housing for pregnant sows. Circle Four Farms is a subsidiary of Murphy-Brown, the first hog production company to announce a complete phase-out of gestation stalls at all company-owned farms.

Construction at a Smithfield farm in Waverly, VA as part of an effort to convert gestation stalls to group housing

Construction continues at a Murphy-Brown farm near Waverly, Virginia, as the company persists with its commitment to convert all of its gestation stalls for pregnant sows to group housing. Smithfield made a decision in 2007, in response to customer requests, to convert all its company-owned sow farms to group housing pens and 30% will be finished by the end of 2011.

Conversion from gestation stalls to group housing at a Smithfield farm in Waverly, VA

Murphy Brown employees at a farm in Waverly, Virginia, work on the conversion of a barn to group pens. Following customer requests, the company made a decision in 2007 to convert all its company-owned sow farms to group housing for pregnant sows - 30% of Smithfield's sows on company-owned farms will be in group housing by the end of 2011.

Progress being made at Waverly, VA farm as part of Smithfield Foods' transition to group housing pens

Workers at a Murphy Brown farm near Waverly, Virginia work on the company’s conversion from gestation stalls for its pregnant sows to group housing. In 2007 the company made a decision, in response to customer requests, to convert all its company-owned farms to group housing - 30% of Smithfield's sows on company-owned farms will be in group housing by the end of 2011.

Animal Care Committee Meeting

Our animal care committee is comprised of members from across our family of companies with varying areas of expertise related to animal care. They meet quarterly to discuss the care of animals on our farms and at our plants.

Farrowing area

Our animal care committee visited the farrowing area of one of our Midwestern farms. This is where sows give birth and raise piglets until they are 23 days old, when they are weaned. The bar you see here helps to ensure that the sow doesn't accidentally injure her piglets by lying down on them.

"Open Pen" Group Housing

One type of newly-converted gestation housing is called “pen gestation.” In this system, sows are housed in small groups in one communal area. You can see a sow here taking a drink—our sows have access to as much clean water as they choose at all times.

Pregnant sows in group housing pens at a Smithfield farm in Utah

Pregnant sows at a Circle Four Farms facility near Milford, Utah, are housed in group pens. Circle Four Farms is a subsidiary of Murphy-Brown, the first hog production company to announce a complete phase-out of gestation stalls for pregnant sows at all company-owned farms.

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