McDonald's recommends stopping the use of sow pregnancy boxes

McDonald's announced on February 13 that it would recommend that U.S. pork suppliers phase out the use of sow gestation boxes, requiring U.S. pork suppliers to come up with specific plans for this by May. The American Society for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said McDonald's move would have an "earthquake-like impact" on the U.S. pig industry. Dan Gorsky, McDonald's vice president of supply chain for North America, said in a statement that metal pregnancy boxes are "not a sustainable production system" and McDonald's will work with suppliers to develop a plan to phase out pregnancy boxes and discuss further steps in May. "We think there are alternatives that provide more benefits for sows," Gorsky said. In general, sows are placed in gestation boxes when pregnant and remain until weaned. The gestation box is small in size and the sow cannot move freely in it. According to the American Society for the Treatment of Animals, 70% of pig farms in the United States use pregnancy boxes, which are banned by the European Union and eight U.S. states such as California, Ohio and Michigan. In addition to McDonald's, fast food chains such as Burger King and Hardy's have previously asked pork suppliers to stop using pregnancy boxes. In addition, Smithfield Foods and Hormel Foods require their farms to stop using pregnancy boxes from 2017. Cargill says it has widely adopted pregnant sow herd type piggery. In the United States, more and more people are realizing that animals on farms should be treated well. Wayne Pacelle, president of PETA, said McDonald's 'suggestion to pork suppliers to stop using pregnancy boxes would have a "catalytic" effect on the industry, given the company's enormous purchasing power. "McDonald's is the largest pork buyer in the fast food industry and the largest restaurant chain in the world, and this move will have a seismic impact on the pork production industry." According to the National Pork Producers Council, the U.S. pork industry is worth $21 billion annually, and McDonald's is one of the largest buyers of pork products in the United States, consuming about 1% of national production. Nathan Runkle, director of the nonprofit animal advocacy group Mercy to Animals, said he hopes McDonald's approach can be replicated for other livestock farming sites, such as chicken farms. "They have the ability to drive the industry and set an example for other food suppliers." McDonald's intends to work with suppliers to discuss possible options for phasing out pregnancy boxes. The National Pork Council, which represents the interests of the pork industry, said gestation boxes are a "traditional method of farming" and alternatives such as open pens "have advantages and disadvantages, and it is up to the farmer to decide which farming method to use." Some proponents of pregnancy boxes argue that they protect piglets from being crushed and bumped during the first few days of life. Although China is a big pig country with a long history of pig breeding, the concept of breeding management is relatively backward. In particular, many small-scale scattered pig farms do not pay attention to environmental conditions, do not carry out scientific feeding management, and do not consider the requirements of animal welfare, resulting in low production levels, low economic benefits, and animal body damage. Kxyzw.com news: In recent years, with the continuous development of intensive pig breeding in China, some producers unilaterally pursue high production, high benefit and intensive pig breeding. Pig farms mainly adopt inner pen feeding and positioning feeding technology mode. This mode adopts pen, tether, cage limit and leaky floor facilities. The breeding density and intensification degree are relatively high. Although it helps to facilitate management and reduce costs, it often ignores the welfare of pigs. In the breeding process, due to insufficient space and poor breeding environment, pigs often lack occasions or opportunities for sports, play and social activities among the same kind, which violates the biological characteristics and behavioral characteristics of pigs. It is difficult for pigs to coordinate their physiological functions, behaviors and habits with the environment, resulting in psychological depression, which makes pigs often behave in some abnormal ways, such as biting tail, biting fence, chewing empty, over-decoration, pica, repeated exercise, Self-destruction and other catharsis, which will affect the productivity of pigs, leading to a decline in pig resistance, and then reduce the quality of pork. In addition, some pig farms are driven by weak safety awareness and interests, misuse of various additives, and long-term use of antibiotics to promote pig growth, resulting in a series of problems such as pig drug resistance and pork drug residues.