SMITHFIELD, Va. – Smithfield Foods has released the second installment of its web-based "Sustainability Stories" series. The newest video explores animal care and the work of Ashley DeDecker, assistant director of production research at Murphy-Brown LLC, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods.

"We are happy to share yet another story about the kind of dedication that has helped shape Smithfield's journey to incorporate sustainability throughout our business," said Larry Pope, president and CEO. "Every day, our people make important decisions regarding our impact on the environment, our animals, our employees, the safety and quality of our products, and our communities."

DeDecker often works at Murphy-Brown's swine research farm in Rose Hill, NC. She worked on her family's 600-sow farrow-to-finish operation in Illinois. Her doctoral work focused on the impacts of alternative sow housing systems on sow well-being. DeDecker is the 2011 recipient of the National Pork Board's Swine Innovation Award.
 
"I want to make as big an impact as possible," DeDecker said, citing Smithfield's work in sow housing and studies geared to keeping swine comfortable in hot, humid conditions.