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Smithfield has Grandin reviewing HSUS video

The Humane Society of the United States has released a video of alleged abuse of animals at a hog operation in Virginia owned by Smithfield Foods through its subsidiary Murphy Brown. Smithfield Foods – in a statement – says it has renowned animal welfare expert Temple Grandin reviewing the video to determine the facts of the incident and if any policy changes will be recommended.

At a news conference this morning, HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle prefaced the release of the undercover video with a suggestion about consumer choices when it comes to brands of pork, “Just before the holidays with people obviously thinking about their food choices and with many families having ham at their dinner tables we’re releasing another investigation into the largest pork producer in the nation, Smithfield Foods.”

Pacelle says the HSUS investigator at the farm for a month took video of the abuse and the continued use of gestation crates.  He then accused Smithfield of backing away from a pledge he says the company made in 2007 to phase out gestation crates in 10 years and with record third-quarter profits could  afford to move forward with that pledge.

Smithfield’s statement says they have “restarted” their capital campaign and are “actively in the process of converting a number of (their) company sow farms from individual gestation stalls to group housing arrangements for pregnant sows.”

Pacelle says the HSUS continues to push for changes at the state level and says seven states have gotten on board,“Some of these states like Ohio and Colorado are actually very big pig producing states.”   Pacelle says major retailers, such as Burger King, are also on board.

Smithfield’s statement says Virginia’s state vet and other state officials are at the farms today (Wednesday) to investigate the incident and if any wrongdoing is confirmed, involved employees will be subject to appropriate action including termination according to their zero-tolerance animal welfare policy.

Smithfield says it learned of a possible animal abuse incident at “one of its facilities” last weekend when they launched an investigation according to their “well-defined animal welfare policy and procedures.”

At the news conference Pacelle said pigs are “highly intelligent” and not only feel physical pain but psychological pain and says his organization is simply trying to end “abusive” practices on the farm.

AUDIO: Wayne Pacelle news conference (38 min. MP3)

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  Just curious – what will happen to the (former?)employee that was at the farm filming the alleged cruelty and did nothing to bring it to management’s attention or to stop it?

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  Visit hsussucks.com and read the article HSUS, The Mob and the Black Egg as well as the DHS Terrorism report page 9 that names HSUS as a domestic terrorism support org WHERE IS THE ATTY GENERAL???

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  Unfortunately, Waynes best idea for ending animal abuse of ALL kinds is just to eliminate the animals. Well, actually, it’s his only idea.

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  Wonder how much mone HSUS has cost Smithfield. Haven’t they been after Smithfield for years in the vegan animal rights movement working toward aboliton of all animals? If it comes to humans living or animals living free roaming the earth, just do not believe that a rat, is a pig, is a boy. Farm animals ARE raised with care and humanely BUT what HSUS main focus is the death of the animal in order to enjoy a plate of protein. I wish someone could protect me from all disappointment and pain in life and I was happy 24/7. (Not really as I learned a lot of valuable lessions in those ups and downs.)
  It is not the facts of life for us or animals. Mother nature is quite cruel and is one of life’s lessons learned on the farm. Utopian societies have been tried and fell, again and again. Where is this leading in the end? Is it true in what animal rights activist blog, ‘that humans can fall of the face of the earth, as long as animals are not used, eaten or enjoyed?’ Sort of scary, isn’t it?

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