Gestation crates confine pregnant sows in metal stalls too narrow to turn around in. The EU, UK, and several US states have banned or restricted them, but global reform lags.
Gestation crates confine sows for months at a time in spaces too small to turn around. Sows cannot perform nest-building, rooting, or social behaviour. Muscle atrophy, joint damage, and pressure sores are common. Cardiovascular fitness deteriorates, affecting birth outcomes. The frustration of being unable to move, explore, or socialise creates chronic stress. Evidence from group housing systems shows sows can be maintained in welfare-positive conditions without the costs associated with individual crating.