Gestation
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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Bagel chain announces intent to go stall-free
Bruegger’s Bagels restaurant chain has joined the growing list of food retailers and grocery stores announcing that they will eliminate sow gestation stalls from its pork supply chain. The company, headquartered in Burlington, Vt., offers breakfast bagel sandwiches featuring bacon, ham or sausage.
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Consistent sow feeding promotes consistent pig production
Sow rations should be formulated and body condition scoring protocols implemented, so body condition scores (BCS) remain steady through the production cycle, says Mike Hemann, swine nutritionist for Purina Animal Nutrition.
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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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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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HSUS files suit against USDA; Targets NPPC funding
Ratcheting up its pressure on the U.S. pork sector, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) filed a lawsuit on Monday against USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. HSUS is specifically targeting the transfer of and payment for the advertising slogan “Pork. The Other White Meat” from the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) to the National Pork Board (NPB) as an “unlawful” act.
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ConAgra sets timeline to eliminate gestation stalls
ConAgra Foods wants its pork suppliers to eliminate the use of gestation-sow stalls. The company wants its pork suppliers to present actionable plans by 2017 that address both the elimination of gestation stalls and creation of traceability systems within the pork supply chain. The ultimate deadline is set for 2022.
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Hillshire Brands sets 2022 to end gestation-sow stalls
Hillshire Brands has joined the ranks of companies that will work toward eliminating gestation-sow stalls from its pork supply chain. While the company does not raise hogs, it plans to advance “fact-based discussions with its suppliers and the industry in general, on alternatives to traditional gestational housing.”
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Retail pork supplier sets gestation-stall-free deadline at 2017
A major U.S. food distributor-- Atlantic Premium Brands Ltd.—wants its pork suppliers to eliminate gestation-sow stalls by 2017. Some of its retail clients include the grocery chains Walmart, HEB, Kroger, Costco, Win Dixie, Sam’s Club, Safeway, and SuperValu.
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SowBridge educational series starts Nov. 7
The information you receive through the SowBridge program will improve your understanding and increase productivity in breeding herds and farrowing systems. Participants will gain valuable information to improve their operation through direct access to professionals.
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