Major victory for factory farm animals!!!

[Guest guest]

From Farm Sanctuary:

 

Cruel Crates To Be Phased Out by Major Pig Producer

 

 

On January 25, 2007, the nation's largest pork producer, Smithfield

Foods Inc., announced plans to phase out " gestation crates " at all

of their breeding pig farms over the next decade. This is a major

development, which is in response to growing awareness and

opposition to the cruel treatment of animals exploited for food. It

comes in the wake of an Arizona voter initiative, banning veal and

gestation crates, that passed by a wide margin last November.

 

Narrow gestation crates are commonly used by the animal agriculture

industry to confine pregnant pigs inside warehouse-type facilities

without the ability to even turn around or lie down comfortably.

Numerous research studies have shown physical and psychological

maladies experienced by sows in confinement from the unnatural

flooring and lack of exercise.

 

This new position by Smithfield is in stark contrast to the

industry's previous statements and justifications about using

gestation crates, wherein they had stated: " thousands of farmers,

including our contract growers, depend on these individual stalls to

house their sows to ensure the safety, welfare and health of each

and every pig. " This proves that animal advocates are gaining ground

by educating the public and pressuring corporations to conduct

themselves in ways that are more consistent with humane, societal

ethics.

 

Farm Sanctuary sees this announcement as a major shift and

indication of change, but we need to keep the pressure on...and we

will. Thank you to everyone who has offered their time, energy and

resources to our Pig Protection Campaign!

 

With your support, here are a few of the actions we have taken to

secure legal protection for pigs:

 

Farm Sanctuary and other humane organizations were instrumental in

Arizona legislation which passed on November 7, 2006. Arizona voters

overwhelmingly voiced their compassion by saying Yes to Proposition

204, to ban the cruel and intensive confinement of veal calves and

pregnant pigs on industrialized factory farms. This new law will

finally allow these animals enough room to turn around and stretch

their limbs.

 

Farm Sanctuary has filed a landmark lawsuit in Los Angeles,

California, challenging the intensive confinement of pigs. Filed

against Corcpork, Inc., one of California's largest pig breeding

facilities, we are fighting to enforce the state animal cruelty law

which should disallow confining breeding sows in gestation crates.

 

Media

 

Reuters - January 25, 2007

Smithfield to phase out gestation crates - WSJ

 

Wall Street Journal - January 25, 2007

Smithfield to Phase Out Crates

 

Ag Professional Weekly - January 25, 2007

Smithfield to switch from gestations stalls to group housing for sows