Cargill achieves early goal for group housing
In June last year, the firm announced it would be converting its facilities for gestating sows to group housing by the end of 2015.
Hogs produced by Cargill-owned sows account for approximately 30% of the total hogs annually harvested at its processing facilities in Illinois and Iowa, in the US.
Mark Luker, president of Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation’s pork business, said: "We are pleased to achieve 100% group housing at Cargill Pork farms nearly one year ahead of schedule.
"This is a significant investment in the future of our pork business, and one we made as the result of listening to the marketplace in recent years."
The firm had maintained 50% group housing for a number of years, but its 2011 acquisition of an idled hog farm complex in the Texas Panhandle helped the company achieve its 100% status.
Since the acquisition of the site, Cargill Pork has invested more than $60m in the purchase and improvement of the 22,000-acre property near Dalhart, including the conversion of sow barns to contain group housing.
Luker added: "Group housing and individual housing for gestating sows both have benefits and challenges. Although a large-scale change to group housing takes time and is costly, we believe it is the right thing to do for the long-term future of our pork production in the US, and our customers agree with us and support our decision.
"However, we are always mindful about the many family farms raising hogs that have livelihoods invested in their operations and it will require patience and resources, should they choose to move to group housing."
The firm has also committed to converting its contract farms to group sow housing by 31 December 2017.
