Smithfield is on track to complete this goal and has created a video, viewable here, which not only reaffirms Smithfield's industry-leading commitment to group housing systems on their company-owned farms but also takes a specific and interesting look at what sows' lives are like in Smithfield group housing.

In 2007, Smithfield Foods, Inc. announced an industry-leading goal of phasing out individual gestation stalls in favour of group housing for pregnant sows at all company-owned sow farms by 2017.

"We think this is both an entertaining and informative look at how we are caring for pregnant sows, with actual footage from our sow farms that helps to explain how the group housing system ensures the safety, comfort and health of the sows during the gestation process," said Dennis H. Treacy, Smithfield's executive vice president and chief sustainability officer.

In 2007 Smithfield Foods made a business decision to convert to group housing for pregnant sows on all company-owned US farms based on input from its customers. When completed in 2017, it is estimated that the US conversion will have cost about $300 million. In addition, Smithfield's international hog production operations also will complete their conversions to group housing on company-owned farms by 2022.