Animal Welfare

Animal welfare is an important issue to our customers, consumers, contract growers and all of us at Pilgrim's. We are absolutely committed to caring for our flocks in the most humane manner.

Our company follows the science-based guidelines for animal welfare issued by the National Chicken Council. These guidelines are designed to promote the humane treatment and well-being of poultry throughout the production cycle, from incubation and hatch to grow-out and processing. In addition, Pilgrim's has an Animal Welfare Committee led by senior-level managers from food safety and quality assurance, technical and veterinary services, and internal audit.

All of our complexes are audited on a regular basis to ensure full compliance with these humane treatment guidelines. In the event that we identify an issue, we take immediate action to correct the problem and schedule follow-up audits to ensure it has been resolved.

Feed

Pilgrim's operates 32 feed mills that supply our contract growers with specially formulated feed made primarily from corn and soybean meal, along with essential vitamins and minerals. No hormones or steroids are ever given to our chickens.

Housing

Pilgrim's contracts with approximately 4,100 family farmers in the U.S. and Mexico to grow chickens for our operations. We provide the chicks, feed, technical services and veterinary care. Our contract growers provide the housing, labor, utilities and, most importantly, the knowledge and expertise that is essential to maintaining the Pilgrim's standard of excellence.

All of our broiler chicks are vaccinated prior to being delivered to our contract growers under a bird health program developed by our licensed veterinarians. Once at the farms, the flocks are raised in large, open structures known as grow-out houses – which can measure up to 500 feet long and 40 feet wide – where they are allowed to roam freely while being protected from predators and wild or migrating birds. These houses are equipped with mechanical systems to deliver feed and water to the birds. These structures also have ventilation systems and heaters to keep the birds comfortable. The floors of the grow-out houses are covered with “litter” composed of organic matter such as wood chips, rice hulls or peanut shells. A minimum waiting period of at least 10 days between flocks is enforced to ensure the health and safety of the arriving new flock.

Biosecurity

Caring for our flocks also means taking steps to protect them from disease or illness. Our contract growers are required to follow strict biosecurity measures on their farms to prevent diseases or viruses from being inadvertently passed to flocks.

These measures include:

• Routine cleaning and disinfecting of equipment and vehicles;
• Providing clean and protective clothing for all personnel;
• Permitting only essential personnel and vehicles to enter the farm;
• Limiting or avoiding visits to other bird farms; and
• Sheltering our flocks in contained housing structures to provide maximum protection from inadvertent contact with wild or migratory birds.

Proper Handling

All Pilgrim's employees who handle live birds are required to complete animal welfare training every year. Our contract growers receive similar training. All are required to sign a training compliance form indicating that they have received this training and understand their responsibilities regarding our animal welfare program. We have a strict zero-tolerance policy in regard to animal welfare. Any Pilgrim's employee who mistreats birds in violations of our guidelines is terminated immediately.

Processing

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service personnel are always present when our plants are operating. Together with our staff of professionally trained Quality Assurance (QA) Supervisors, they ensure full compliance with all applicable USDA chicken processing regulations, including those covering humane slaughter.

By working together with our growers, customers and others in our industry, Pilgrim's is helping to ensure that our birds are raised, transported and processed as humanely as possible.