Farrowing Crate Alternatives: Welfare Evidence

The welfare case for replacing farrowing crates with alternative farrowing systems is well established, though the transition requires management changes to maintain piglet survival.

Key Facts

Sows in farrowing crates cannot turn around for up to five weeks around birth
Norway banned farrowing crates in 2022 and requires pen farrowing by 2034
Loose farrowing pens with creep areas and escape routes show comparable piglet mortality when well managed
Sows in crates show reduced movement and higher incidence of leg problems and pressure sores
EU countries have debated farrowing crate phase-out for over a decade without agreement

Welfare Considerations

Farrowing crates prevent sows from performing nesting behaviour, which they are strongly motivated to perform in the days before giving birth. Frustration of nesting motivation causes significant pre-partum stress. Confinement during lactation prevents normal maternal behaviour and limits sow-piglet interaction. Alternative systems including free-farrowing pens with creep areas and turn-around crates allow partial movement and natural behaviour while managing piglet crushing risk. Evidence from countries with high-welfare farrowing systems demonstrates that piglet survival need not be compromised when management quality is maintained.

What You Can Do

Choose pork from systems that use free-farrowing or alternative farrowing systems
Support retailers and food businesses that have committed to farrowing crate phase-out
Advocate for national and EU legislation to set a phase-out deadline
Support research into optimal free-farrowing pen design for welfare and productivity
Learn about the welfare case for farrowing reform and share evidence-based information