The hog production division of Hormel Foods’ operation in California is selling off its sows and moving to a finishing operation by October.
Farmer John is shipping about 9,000 sows from its Corcoran, CA, operation. The last pigs from sows bred on the farm will be weaned in April and finished out by October.
In the future, Farmer John will source pigs to finish in California from its existing farms in Wyoming and Arizona, which house 14,000 and 13,500 sows, respectively.
Reasons stated for the sell-off include the rising cost of feed and fuel and concerns over the state’s regulatory environment. An upcoming ballot initiative expected in California’s November election would ban sow stalls, veal crates and battery cages.