WASHINGTON, D.C., April 30, 2012 – Domino’s Pizza shareholders last Wednesday rejected – by a majority vote of 80 percent – a resolution from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) requiring its pork suppliers to stop the use of gestation stalls.
Several prominent foodservice companies, including McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King, recently made decisions to terminate buying from producers using gestation sow stalls.
The National Pork Producers Council praised Domino’s decision in a statement today. NPPC said its producers consult the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians when designing housing and handling their animals, which recognize gestation stalls and group housing systems as appropriate for providing for the well-being of sows during pregnancy.
“The vote to reject the HSUS resolution was a vote for common sense,” said NPPC President R.C. Hunt, a pork producer from Wilson, N.C. “We appreciate Domino’s belief that America’s farmers, veterinarians and other animal agriculture experts are better suited than activist groups to determine what the best animal care practices are.”
“Removing sow stalls has no demonstrable health or welfare benefits to animals,” said Dr. Liz Wagstrom, NPPC chief veterinarian. “In fact, the key factor that most affects animal well-being is husbandry skills – that is, the care given to each animal. There is no scientific consensus on the best way to house gestating sows because each type of housing system has inherent advantages and disadvantages.”
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