HSUS criticizes Tyson’s animal well-being audits
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is not impressed with Tyson Foods’ launch of a new animal well-being auditing program for its suppliers, but that should not come as a surprise. The activist group wants Tyson to eliminate gestation-sow stalls and will keep applying pressure.
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Tyson initiates FarmCheck auditing program
Tyson Foods is launching a program to audit animal treatment at the livestock and poultry farms that supply the company. Known as FarmCheck, the audits have already occurred on a trial basis on some of the 3,000 independent hog farms that supply Tyson Foods. Under the program, auditors visit the farms to check on such things as animal access to food and water, as well as proper human-animal interaction and worker training.
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Cheesecake Factory targets 2022 for gestation-stall elimination
The Cheesecake Factory is the latest restaurant chain to join 33 other food companies committed to eliminating gestation-sow stalls from their supply chains. Also this week, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) filed a shareholder resolution with Seaboard Foods for the company to report on its contributions for political and charitable purposes.
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Stalls or groups: It’s a complex issue
This year, numerous food retailers have announced deadlines for their pork suppliers to ensure that farms raising the hogs eliminate gestation-sow stalls. However, "simply moving sows from stalls to pens where they can move around will definitely not improve their welfare," according to a University of Illinois researcher.
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What issues are on the horizon for livestock producers?
As we move into an era where consumers are increasingly concerned about how their food is raised, producers have no choice but to learn more about how the ongoing discussion may affect their work in the future.
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Commentary: Companies pacify HSUS - for now
Companies that are requesting pork producers to eliminate sow gestation stalls are playing follow the leader and unfortunately the leader is the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Somehow HSUS has been able to convince these companies that they are the “experts” on animal welfare while the real experts are being ignored.
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Producers and workers shouldn’t overlook flu shots
With flu season again upon us, the National Pork Board’s pork checkoff reminds pork producers, farm personnel and others who have contact with pigs to get their seasonal flu vaccination as soon as possible to help protect human and pig health.
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Gestation stalls to drop off Chili’s menu
Brinker International, which owns the Chili’s restaurant chain, reports that the company will work with its pork suppliers to eliminate gestation-sow stalls. The company’s announcement acknowledges that “there are various ways to achieve our animal welfare beliefs…including phasing out gestation stalls,” adding that such actions will “take some time to implement.”
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Sign up for swine castration seminar Oct. 8
In keeping with an ongoing effort to inform all parties involved in the pork supply chain about on-farm production practices, the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) will hold its second webinar. Scheduled for Monday, Oct. 8, the webinar will focus on swine castration.
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Dunkin’ Donuts to eliminate sow gestation crates
Dunkin’ Donuts is the latest food retailer to announce that it will eliminate sow gestation crates from its pork supply chain. In order to determine a timeline for eliminating gestation crates, the company will require its U.S. pork suppliers to outline their plans to achieve the goal.
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HSUS sow stall effort “absolutely not justifiable”
The Humane Society of the United States’ (HSUS) validation of sow gestation stalls as not being humane and not sustainable is “absolutely not justifiable,” said Janeen Salek-Johnson, associate professor of animal well-being, University of Illinois.
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