Smithfield probes alleged hog abuse in N. Carolina

CHICAGO, Dec 12 (Reuters) - U.S. hog and pork producer Smithfield Foods Inc (SFD.N) said on Wednesday it has launched an investigation into allegations of animal cruelty on a North Carolina farm that raises hogs for the company.

On Tuesday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said an undercover investigation showed that workers on the North Carolina farm hit and jabbed pigs in the face with metal rods, dragged injured animals, and denied them treatment for injuries.

"An investigation into the allegations of animal abuse at the Garland South Farm has begun. When the investigation has been completed we will take the appropriate actions if violations of the company's animal welfare policies are identified," the company said in Wednesday's statement.

A video, which PETA claims supports the allegations, is available on PETA's Web site, www.peta.org . PETA on Tuesday said it gave a copy of the video to a North Carolina district attorney and urged that charges be filed under North Carolina's ant-cruelty rule.

Don Butler, spokesman for Murphy-Brown, Smithfield's hog raising unit, told Reuters there was no timetable for completion of the investigation, but he expects it will finish soon and the results will be made available.

In addition to the investigation, the company said "Murphy Brown will work with its contract growers to review its conformance with our requirements for animal care to include recommendations for corrective action if non conformance to our requirements is found." (Reporting by Bob Burgdorfer, editing by Matthew Lewis)