US food company ConAgra has its pork suppliers to eliminate the use of gestation housing for sows by 2022, as a part of its plan to promote humane treatment and handling of animals.
The company is asking 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.
ConAgra said that implementing a phase-out may be a long-term process, and could take up to 10 years.
"ConAgra Foods intends to continue working with pork suppliers who share our commitment to the best animal welfare and handling practices," the company added.
With this decision ConAgra joins several food companies who have decided to gradually eliminate hog confinement crates. Leading pork companies Smithfield Foods and Hormel Foods have already noted they would stop using gestational sows at company-owned farms by 2017.
