Hy-Line acknowledges animal welfare practices violation

Hy-Line announced that independent audits confirm that some of the practices at its Spencer, Iowa, facility depicted in the undercover video produced by a welfare group last week did not reflect the standard operating procedures of the company and are in direct violation of its animal welfare policy.

The independent audits identified specific recommendations for Hy-Line to modify its equipment so that it cannot be altered or changed. Those corrective actions to equipment and procedures were implemented immediately, the firm said. 

The firm also said it will enforce zero-tolerance policy toward employees behavior that does not conform to established animal well-being procedures. Ongoing training and investments are also mandatory to ensure that employees abide by the company's highest operating standards.