NPPC comments on Safeway’s sow housing decision
NPPC president statement: NPPC supports the position taken by the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, which recognise gestation stalls and group housing systems as appropriate for providing for the well-being of sows during pregnancy.
In fact, the key factor that most affects animal well-being is husbandry skills – that is, the care given to each animal. There is no scientific consensus on the best way to house gestating sows because each type of housing system has inherent advantages and disadvantages, so no standard should be imposed on the industry by activist organizations.
While NPPC respects the right of companies to make business decisions that are in their best interests, it seems that Safeway was intimidated by an animal rights group whose ultimate goal is the elimination of food-animal production.
The Humane Society of United States, which has filed shareholder lawsuits against food companies, has no concern for the hog farmers who care for their pigs every day, for families struggling to purchase food or for the hog farms that struggle to stay in business or may go out of business – costing rural America thousands of jobs – because of its campaign against America’s farmers.
NPPC president, R.C. Hunt, is a pork producer from Wilson, N.C.
**Also read – US: Safeway to move away from sow gestation crates
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