Figure 1.

Statistical process control chart for the percentage of pigs identified as (a) dead on arrival, (b) euthanized on arrival, (c) dead in pens, or (d) total dead pigs at U.S. market swine processing facilities. The data was based on 310,002,578 pigs observed at 20 U.S. processing facilities over 212 consecutive weeks of data collection. Dead on arrival was defined as pigs that died during the transit from the farm to the slaughter facility. Euthanized on arrival was defined as non-ambulatory pigs with a severe injury that required euthanasia. Dead in pen was defined as pigs that died after unloading at the slaughter facility. Total dead pigs were defined as the sum of pigs that were dead on arrival, euthanized on arrival, or dead in pen. The upper critical limit (UCL) and lower critical limit (LCL) represent 3 standard deviations from the mean.