When it comes to animal welfare policies and processes, count on us to lead the way. In fact, we're recognized by the world's foremost experts in animal well-being as setting the standard for America's pork industry—and we're applying those same best practices to our global operations.
"Smithfield's announcement that it will phase out sow gestation stalls has started an important trend. It has been an industry leader in animal welfare initiatives, and the conversion of farms to group housing is a welcome development."
Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
Professor of Animal Science
Colorado State University
Comprehensive Animal Management
Murphy-Brown, our livestock production subsidiary, has developed the industry's most comprehensive animal welfare management program to ensure our animals receive proper care.
The Animal Welfare Management System (AWMS) was closely developed with two of the world's foremost experts in animal behavior and animal handling. Experts from a variety of disciplines—veterinary medicine, reproductive physiology, production management, marketing, management system administration, legal, logistics, and public affairs—participated in an animal welfare committee to make sure animal well-being practices would be evaluated from many different perspectives.
After the AWMS was implemented, adherence to its objectives and requirements was audited by the USDA Process Verified program and continues to be verified through random third-party audits as part of the National Pork Board's Pork Quality Assurance program known as PQA Plus™. Today, our program serves as a model for other companies in the industry and, most importantly, assures our animals are safe, comfortable and healthy.