RIVIERE DU LOUP, Quebec – DuBreton announced the company has raised more than 340,000 crate-free pigs in three years, surpassing the pork processor’s previous commitment of raising 300,000 crate-free pigs in three years. DuBreton said the milestone reflects an investment of $40 million to support animal welfare and organic farming practices.

“While traditional, conventional or commodity pork farms have pigs that live in crates that are only 14 square feet, our farms in the DuBreton network are crate-free and allow the animals to live in groups with plenty of space to engage in their natural behaviors,” said Vincent Breton, third-generation president of DuBreton. “We work with like-minded family farmers who believe in the DuBreton values and principles of putting the animals, human health and the environment first. We’re changing the face of Certified Humane and organic pork production in North America one farm and one pig at a time.”

The company partnered with third-party animal welfare certification organizations — including Certified Humane, the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) 5-Step Animal Welfare Program and USDA Organic — to achieve its animal welfare goals. Additional investments included:

  • Upgrades to 93 existing barns to meet Certified Humane and GAP 5-step farming standards, 72 of which also meet USDA Organic standards;
  • Construction of 22 new barns to meet Certified Humane and GAP 5-step farming standards, 21 of which also meet USDA Organic standards; and
  • Adding 24 new organic pork farmers to the DuBreton business.

“We started working with DuBreton in 2003 to begin the certification process and, over the years, we have seen consumer demand for meat that is ethically and sustainably raised increased dramatically,” said Adele Douglass, founding executive director of the non-profit Humane Farm Animal Care that grants the Certified Humane certification. “DuBreton has been vital to advancing the pork industry. I, and everyone at Certified Humane, congratulate DuBreton on its major achievement of raising more than 340,000 pigs in crate-free environments.”