Tyson To Drop Oklahoma Hog Supplier After Abuse Video Surfaces

Mercy For Animals distributed images of Henryetta workers striking pigs and slamming piglets onto a concrete floor.

Thursday, November 21st 2013, 12:19 pm

By: News On 6

Tyson To Drop Oklahoma Hog Supplier After Abuse Video Surfaces

Tyson Foods says it's ending a contract with a central Oklahoma farm after an animal rights group says it videotaped workers at the farm abusing hogs.

Mercy For Animals distributed images of workers striking pigs and slamming piglets onto a concrete floor. In one portion of the tape, a worker is shown throwing a bowling ball at a pig, striking it in the head.

GRAPHIC: Click here to watch the video

The animal rights group and Tyson have identified the farm as West Coast Farms in Henryetta. Phone calls to the farm have gone unanswered.

"We own the hogs, but do not own or operate the farm and the people shown in the video are not employees of Tyson Foods," spokesperson Gary Mickelson said in an email to News On 6.

"We're extremely disappointed by the mistreatment shown in the video and will not tolerate this kind of animal mishandling. We are immediately terminating our contract with this farmer and will take possession of the animals remaining on the farm. We're serious about proper animal handling and expect the farmers who supply us to treat animals with care and to be trained and certified in responsible animal care practices. It's consistent with our core values to "serve as stewards of the animals… entrusted to us."