You should know….

….that all the big producers are patting themselves on the back for their humane treatment of animals.  McDonald’s has joined Chipotle in campaigns to get their suppliers of pork to stop keeping their pigs in gestation pens.  They’re crates really, about two feet wide, so the sows can’t even turn around.  From the Wall Street Journal:

McDonald’s Corp. is pushing its pork suppliers to stop confining sows in small pens known as gestation stalls, moving to address concerns raised by animal-welfare advocates—and catch up with some competitors.

The burger giant on Monday said the pens are “not a sustainable production system” and there are alternatives that “are better for the welfare of sows.” The move was announced in conjunction with the Humane Society of the U.S., which praised the decision.

Gestation stalls confine adult female hogs whose offspring are raised and slaughtered for bacon and sausage. The pens are typically about two feet wide, preventing sows from turning around, leaving only enough room to stand up and sit down.

The announcement is the latest in a series of measures McDonald’s and other restaurant chains have taken to improve their public image at a time when they are under pressure not only from interest groups but from some consumers to be more environmentally friendly and healthful.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. and some other fast-food chains are touting their animal-friendly supply chains. Chipotle ran a lengthy ad during the Grammy music awards on Sunday criticizing industrial hog-raising practices, including the use of small pens and chemical supplements like antibiotics.

McDonald’s on Monday said it has been considering demanding the removal of gestation crates for years.

The National Pork Producers Council, a farmers trade group, said it continues to support the use of gestation stalls, but was also willing to assist in the transition for McDonald’s suppliers.

The largest U.S. hog producer, Smithfield Foods Inc., said it has completed a third of its 10-year plan to move all its sows “into group housing systems.” Cargill Inc. is also carrying out plans to replace the cages.

We note that McDonald’s has been considering this for years.  Even more noteworthy is that, while the sows could maybe, someday in the future be removed from their crates, they’ll still be confined indoors in “group housing systems”.  And of course they’ll still be getting the usual doses of antibiotics and hormones….probably more because instead of being compartmentalized, they’ll be crowded together in “group housing”.

Thistle Hill pigs are entirely free range of course.  Too free.  Last night when we came home they were waiting at the garage, complaining that their dinner was late.  Some of our friends say that when they die, they hope they come back as an animal on Thistle Hill farm.

All this reminds me that our pork is about ready for distribution.  If you want to be on our customer list, just drop a note to info@thistlehill.net.